A police officer attached to Masalani police station in Garissa County has reportedly stabbed his girlfriend to death before committing suicide.

Ijara Sub-county police commander William Oyugi has confirmed the incident, saying the officer took his own life by detonating a hand grenade when he realized the lady had bled to death.

“Chances were that the officer resorted to committing suicide out of desperation or regret after realizing that the lady had bled to death owing to the physical injuries,” said Oyugi.

According to neighbours, the officer and his girlfriend had engaged in a heated argument before he stabbed her.

Oyugi said the deceased had burns all over his body caused by shrapnel from the shell.

Oyugi added that the two lover birds had been having a violent relationship as the girlfriend had sometimes fled with their kid accusing the husband of infidelity.

The bodies of the deceased were moved to Mwingi mortuary, awaiting postmortem results.