Six sentenced to death in 2013 Arusha church bombing
What you need to know:
- The attack, which occurred during the inauguration of St. Joseph the Worker Church, tragically claimed three lives and injured several others.
Moshi/Arusha. The High Court has concluded a decade-long case, sentencing six individuals to death for their roles in the 2013 bombing of a Catholic church in Olasiti, Arusha.
The attack, which occurred during the inauguration of St. Joseph the Worker Church, tragically claimed three lives and injured several others.
Judge John Nkwabi of the Arusha High Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday, culminating 10 years of investigation and trial.
The statement of offense presented in court detailed the incident, which occurred on May 5, 2013, and targeted the Pope's representative in Tanzania, Bishop Francisco Padilla, who fortunately survived along with Archbishop Josephat Lebulu.
The investigation involved extensive collaboration between the Tanzania Police Force, the Tanzania People's Defence Force, and other security officials.
It led to the arrest and subsequent trial of nine individuals, eventually resulting in the conviction of six for conspiracy to commit terrorism, attempted murder, and causing the deaths of three individuals: Regina Loningo Kuresoi, James Gabriel Kessy, and Patricia Joachim.
The evidence presented in court revealed that the defendants held several meetings at the home of Ramadhan Hamad Waziri, where they planned the attack.
These meetings, confirmed by both witness testimonies and the statements of some defendants, culminated in the detonation of a hand-held bomb amidst a crowd of people at the church.
Despite the weight of evidence, all defendants denied any involvement. Those who had written statements or confessions claimed they were coerced.
However, Judge Nkwabi's analysis of the evidence, including exhibit P38 which identified the source of information about the church inauguration, led him to conclude otherwise.
Specifically, the judge found the statement of defendant Jafari Lema, who admitted to receiving information about the event and sharing it with the others, to be credible. Additionally, the judge rejected the defense of Ramadhan Hamad Waziri, who denied having a house in Olasiti despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Praising the efforts of law enforcement, Judge Nkwabi commended the "tireless work" of the police and all those involved in apprehending the suspects. He subsequently sentenced six defendants – Abashari Hassan Omary, Yusuph Ally Huta, Ramadhan Hamad Waziri, Abdul Hassan Juma, Kassim Idrisa Ramadhan, and Jaffari Hashim Lema – to death for their crimes.
The remaining three defendants – Abdulrahman Jumanne Hassan, Amani Mussa Pakasi, and Abdul Mohamed – were acquitted of the charges related to the bombing. However, Pakasi faces further charges in a separate case.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism and the importance of thorough investigations and justice. While the court has delivered its verdict, the emotional scars of this tragedy will undoubtedly remain with the victims and their families for years to come.
