Charity worker's inquest adjourned for third time
PAAn inquest into the death of a BBC charity worker who was murdered in Kenya has been adjourned for the third time at a law court in Nairobi.
Kate Mitchell, who was originally from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was found dead in her hotel room in the Kenyan capital in November 2021.
She worked for the BBC's media development charity in Addis Ababa and had relocated temporarily to Nairobi because of the ongoing Ethiopian civil war.
Her brother, Peter Mitchell, has spent five years seeking answers about the circumstances of his sister's death. So far seven witnesses have testified in court, and a further 12 are expected to give evidence when the hearing resumes in two months.
Mitchell said there had been an issue getting consecutive court dates which meant he has had to travel to Kenya for a number of single-day hearings.
He added: "It's quite difficult for me and it's quite difficult for my mam, but if it had happened to me, Kate would have torn the world apart looking for answers."
Last year at an inquest held at Newcastle Coroner's Court, coroner Karin Welsh concluded Kate Mitchell was unlawfully killed.
She was a senior project manager for BBC Media action, the BBC's media development charity, for 14 years and worked in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zambia and London.
She had been working in Addis Ababa and had relocated temporarily to Nairobi because of the ongoing Ethiopian civil war, when she was found dead in a hotel room.
BBC Media Action said: "Kate was a devoted and beloved colleague. We miss her, and will never forget her."
The inquest, which opened in November 2025 at Kibera Law Courts will resume on 28 July.
