Bukoba teacher to hang for murdering pupil

Kibeta Primary School teacher Respicius Mtazangira, who murdered his pupil last year in Bukoba District, Kagera Region, reads the Bible in court yesterday.

PHOTO | PHINIAS BASHAYA

What you need to know:

  • The court handed Respicius a death sentence after finding him guilty of beating a student to death, while setting free his co-accused Heriet Gerald in Bukoba.

Bukoba. The High Court has sentenced Respicius Mtazangira, 51, to hang to death after finding him guilty of beating to death a Standard Five pupil, Sperius Eradius.

The court also set free co-accused Heriet Gerald, 47, after failing to find her guilty of committing the offence.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Lameck Mlacha yesterday.

Judge Mlacha said after going through evidence, the court found Mr Mtazangira guilty of murdering a Kibeta Primary School pupil.

“After going through evidence, which was presented before the court, it has found Respicius Mtazangira guilty of the crime. However, the evidence presented before the court has failed to incriminate Ms Heriet Gerald,” ruled the court.

Earlier, state attorney Hashimu Ngole told the court that Respicius committed the offence on August 28, 2018 after he canned the pupil and later beat him with another object, which led to the young man’s death.

Prosecution presented to the court various witnesses as well as a report by a doctor from the Bugando Referral Hospital, which showed that the pupil succumbed to death due to beating.

The trial, which began on February 6, lasted for only 30 days.

“Due to public interest, we decided to ask the court to speed-up proceedings and that is why the case lasted for only 30 days,” said Mr Ngole, after the ruling was delivered.

After the ruling was delivered there was drama in the courtroom after the convict collapsed. This forced prison warden to rush him out through the rear door.

Co-accused Heriet remained frozen in her seat in the courtroom as those, who turned-up to the court exited.

Defence lawyer Aaron Kabunga said his side has been satisfied with the ruling, however, he did not rule out the possibility of appealing. The convict and co-accused were accused of beating to death Sperius, after accusing him of stealing a hand bag.