Man accused of setting Ugandan Olympic athlete on fire dies of burns

A man accused of pouring petrol on an Ugandan Olympic athlete and setting light to it, causing her death days later, has died of burns he suffered in the attack, according to the Kenyan hospital where he was being treated.

Dickson Ndiema was admitted to the Moi Referral Hospital in the western city of Eldoret with burns covering 30% of his body.

Ndiema is alleged to have suffered the injuries after setting Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei on fire. She died last Thursday with 80% of burns to her body.

Hospital spokesman Owen Menach told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the hospital would issue a statement later but confirmed that the patient had died.

Ndiema and Cheptegei were said to have argued over a piece of land that the athlete bought in Kenya, according to a report filed by the local chief.

Cheptegei had competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack. She finished in 44th place.

Her parents said she had bought land in Trans Nzoia county to be near Kenya’s many athletic training centres.

Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, told reporters last week that Ndiema, his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, had been stalking and threatening her and that the family had informed police.

He said he wanted justice and expressed concern that the suspect had not been under guard in hospital in case he tried to escape.

Cheptegei is expected to be buried at her home in Uganda on Saturday.