Adamson death officially murder

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 4

Adamson death officially murder

NZPA Nairobi

The Kenyan police have announced that they are treating the death last week of the conservationist Joy Adamson, author of “Born Free,” as murder following new information on her death, which was previously thought to have been caused by a wild animal. >

The Commissioner of Police (Mr Ben Gethi), in a statement released through Kenya’s national news agency, said three people were being interrogated by officers, but additional details were not disclosed. Mrs Adamson, who was 69, was killed on Thursday evening in Shaba game reserve, about 280 km north of Nairobi, while strolling outside her tented camp, where she was conducting experiments on leopard behaviour.

A Kenyan source, who requested anonymity, said the autopsy report was expected to show that Mrs Adamson had been stabbed in the chest. Initial reports from the police and friends indicated that she was mauled and killed by a lion, but the

“Sunday Standard” newspaper later reported that her car had been stolen and there was little blood at Mrs Adamson’s deathsite. Police officials were reported to have returned to her isolated camp to investigate the stolen car report and the Kenyan President (Mr Daniel Arap Moi) ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of her death. * An autopsy was performed on Mrs Adamson’s body on Saturday morning in Nairobi, but results have not been made public. Informed sources, who requested anonymity, suggested the report will show Mrs Adamson was not killed by a lion as had been thought earlier, but this could not be confirmed immediately by police or city mortuary officials. Mrs Adamson, whose “Bom Free” series on Hon behaviour popularised animal conservation, will be cremated today, wildlife associates said. The ceremony will be attended only by family and friends and there will be no religious service.