Kenyan Man Sues London Police After Decade on Death Row

Wrongful Conviction: Kenyan Man Takes Legal Action Against Police

​Ali Kololo, a Kenyan woodcutter, is suing London’s Metropolitan Police for their alleged role in his wrongful conviction and death sentence related to a 2011 attack on British tourists in Kenya. Kololo was accused of aiding the gang responsible for the murder of David Tebbutt and the kidnapping of his wife, Judith, from a remote Kenyan island resort. In 2013, he was convicted of robbery with violence and sentenced to death, resulting in over a decade of imprisonment under harsh conditions before his conviction was overturned in 2023.

Kololo’s lawsuit asserts that the Metropolitan Police provided misleading evidence that significantly contributed to his wrongful conviction. Specifically, former Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hibberd is accused of withholding key information that could have cast doubt on the prosecution’s claims, particularly regarding inconclusive footprint analysis linking Kololo to the crime scene.

Further scrutiny has arisen over the UK government’s authorization of police assistance in cases with potential death penalty outcomes. Emails reveal that the Home Office approved the deployment of Met officers to Kenya despite acknowledging the possibility of a death sentence, raising concerns about compliance with UK policies against facilitating capital punishment abroad.

Represented by the legal charity Reprieve, Kololo seeks compensation for the severe harm endured during his imprisonment. His case underscores broader issues regarding international collaborations in legal proceedings and the imperative to uphold human rights standards. ​

The Metropolitan Police have refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings. The outcome of this lawsuit may have significant implications for future international law enforcement collaborations and the safeguarding of individuals’ rights within the justice system.​