AICT church speaks on killing of choir member

Mother of slain Miriam Charles, Ms Ester Lutonja cries as she pays her last respects in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The deceased, an AICT Chang’ombe choir member, was found dead in a city lodge. PHOTO|TUMAINI MSOWOYA

What you need to know:

  • The church senior pastor, Mr Elisha Isebuka, said the police were the only authority, which deal with all criminal cases and thanked the cops for arresting the suspect.

Dar es Salaam. The African Inland Church of Tanzania (AICT) hopes that justice will be served in the death of its choir member, Ms Miriam Charles, 26, stressing they will leave the matter to police.

The church senior pastor, Mr Elisha Isebuka, said the police were the only authority, which deal with all criminal cases and thanked the cops for arresting the suspect.

“We thank God that the suspect has been arrested and we will now leave this matter to the police,” he said. Mr Frank Magalu was arrested at Kisuma Guest House, which is located at Chang’ombe in Dar es Salaam two days ago for allegedly killing Ms Miriam at another guest house namely East London located at Buza area, where the two were staying.

Mr Magalu and Ms Miriam were reportedly planning tie the knot in the near future.

Speaking to the member of the church during the Sunday service, Pastor Isebuka said some people have been calling him concerning the killing of the church’s chorister and the arrest of the convict, but he noted that he was no longer the right person to speak about it because the police have arrested the suspect and investigation is ongoing.

“We have to leave this issue to the police. I ask you to remain calm because the police have the mandate to deal with all criminal cases,” he said.

The pastor called for the member of the church to continue depending on God for everything because he is the only seviour and he has already helped the arrest of the suspected killer.

“The accused was arrested through God’s miracle,” he told the faithful. The Temeke regional police Commander, Mr Emmanuel Lukuka, said Mr Magalu is still admitted at the Temeke referral hospitals for treatment, after an abortive attempt to commit suicide. According to him, following the killing of his girlfriend, Mr Magalu swallowed 10 valium pills and drunk a bottle of Konyagi in a deliberate attempt to take his own life.