Innocent Kenyan Wood-Cutter Sues Police After 11 Years in Prison for Murder

Ali Kololo, a 45-year-old Kenyan wood-cutter, is suing the Metropolitan Police after spending 11 years in prison for his alleged involvement in the murder of British publishing executive David Tebbutt. Kololo was sentenced to death for aiding Somali pirates who shot Tebbutt during a holiday in Kenya in September 2011. Following his release in February 2022, Kololo maintains his innocence, stating that his time on death row severely impacted his mental and physical health. Kololo's conviction was largely based on the testimony of a police officer, Hibberd, who linked him to the crime through evidence of footprints from tanga shoes, common Somali footwear. However, a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed that Hibberd omitted crucial forensic evidence during the trial. When Kololo tried on the shoes in court, they did not fit, and he has consistently denied ownership of them. The IOPC concluded that Hibberd would have faced gross misconduct charges had he still been serving, but he retired in 2017. Kololo's legal team argues that Hibberd misused his position to secure a wrongful conviction. Judith Tebbutt, David's widow, has publicly supported Kololo, asserting her belief in his innocence. The Metropolitan Police confirmed receipt of Kololo's civil claim but declined to comment further on the matter.