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Ex-student shot dead in bar row
A FORMER Sheffield student has been shot dead in Kenya during a row with a police officer.
James Muiruri, aged 29, who recently completed a PhD in international law at Sheffield University, was killed in his home country on Saturday morning after a night out.
Mr Muiruri, the son of former Kenyan MP Patrick Muiruri, was killed while out drinking with the police officer.
The officer had only recently joined the local police force in the Westlands area of Nairobi and was said to have been "excited about having a gun".
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the officer was an Inspector and new to the force.
He said the pair began arguing in a bar and were eventually ordered to leave. The spokesman said the police officer began following Mr Muiruri and he was later shot at but declined to say where, how many times or in what circumstances.
He added: "He joined the force recently and was just excited about having a gun."
The spokesman said the gun had been unlawfully used and added: "We must take him to court because he could not justify why he used the weapon."
Mr Muiruri's grieving father said his son was shot five times. "He was shot twice in the shoulder, then the third bullet tore through his chest into the heart," said the former Assistant Minister for Agriculture.
He said the killer then shot his son twice in the mouth after he fell down.
He said he was devastated at the loss of his second-born son and added: "He was my life and my everything."
Professor Nigel White, from Sheffield University's School of Law, said he had had the "great pleasure" of being Mr Muiruri's supervisor for three years. "He was an exceptional student who worked hard on his thesis which explored the developing system of African regional security. He was truly inspirational when explaining his research, whether to colleagues and friends or at international conferences.
"He also taught in the Law School and was frequently described by his undergraduate students as a brilliant tutor.
"He was active in student life, having been the founding President of the East Africa Society, which reflected his love and passion for Africa and which earned him a number of Student Union awards.
"He also found the time to commit to many other worthwhile ventures such as the Black Students' Committee, being a resident tutor and mentor to two halls of residence as well as to the young Kenyan community within the University, and legal advisor and supporter of Rachel's Development Programme - his mother's orphanage programme in Kenya."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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