A Ugandan athlete living in Kenya was attacked and set on fire by her boyfriend and is receiving treatment for burns on 75% of her body, police said.

Rebecca Cheptegei, a distance runner who finished at the 44th position in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said Monday that Cheptegei’s boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, bought a jerrican of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement Sunday. Ndiema also sustained burn wounds, and the two are receiving specialized treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city.

Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s many athletic training centers.

  • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
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    2 months ago

    Nor do you want the death penalty to return.

    Who is to say their neighbor didn’t burn her trying to frame the guy? If you aren’t 100% sure then you might be killing innocents. And you can never be 100% sure.

    • LordGimp@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Sure you do. Some people are simply a net negative to their society. For example, someone who burns an Olympian to death with gasoline over a property dispute. Or a sex trafficker who kidnaps women to sell into slavery. There’s plenty of good reasons to unalive certain members of our society. The violence is simply a deterrent

      • howrar@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Who is to say their neighbor didn’t burn her trying to frame the guy? If you aren’t 100% sure then you might be killing innocents. And you can never be 100% sure.