In a major ruling rendered on Friday, May 13, the intermediate court of Nyarugenge sentenced Assoumpta Mutatsineza, a 25-year-old woman to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband, Theogene Twagirayezu.
As opposed to ordinary circumstances where most cases are tried in the courtroom, this one was heard from the Kabeza community where the crime was committed.
It is not a very common thing that courts decide to conduct trials from communities.
However, there have been particular cases that were taken to communities as a way of ascertaining justice, getting concrete evidence and testimonies from key witnesses, and rendering justice to the community where the crime was committed.
The initiative for judges to conduct the trial at the scene of crime also serves as a deterrent for the most violent crimes in communities.
Here are five of such cases that were tried from communities in the last three years.
Gasabo maid tried for murder of 9-year-old boy
In mid-2022, the intermediate court of Gasabo conducted a community trial of Solange Nyirangiruwonsaga, a 37-year-old maid, who was charged with the murder of a nine year old son in the family where she worked.
The trial was held at Ndera sub-parish Catholic Church, which is closer to the area where the crime was committed.
Nyirangiruwonsanga was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty.
Hundreds of residents including the bereaved parents attended the hearing of the case.
25-year old Kicukiro woman tried for husband's murder
In April 2022, the intermediate court of Nyarugenge decided to conduct a community trial of Assoumpta Mutatsineza, a 25-year-old Kicukiro woman suspected of being involved in the murder of her husband.
The trial took place in Kabeza cell of Kicukiro district where members of the community were given a greater opportunity of following the case.
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On Friday, May 13, the court sentenced her to life imprisonment for her involvement in the murder of her husband, Theogene Twagirayezu.
She was convicted alongside four men: Alphonse Uyisenga, Vianney Rubabaza, Evariste Ndizihiwe, and Athanase Habiryayo, who collaborated with her in the crime.
The crime was committed in November 2022 when Twagirayezu was found lifeless in the family home in Kabeza. He was found to have been hit with a hammer and stabbed with a knife.
Rulindo man tried for murder of his wife
In September 2022, the intermediate court of Muhanga held a community trial of Charles Murwanashyaka, a Rulindo man charged with murder of his wife Vestine Yankurije.
The trial took place in Ruhamagariro village, Gafunzo cell, Mwendo sector, where the crime was committed.
According to the prosecutors, Murwanashyaka killed Yankurije by cutting her with a machete in their banana plantation.
In October 2022, Murwanashyaka was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of the crime.
Ngoma-based soldier tried for murder of his wife
In April 2022, Sergeant Major Athanase Niyigabura, a soldier with Rwanda Defence Force was tried in the community, on charges of murdering his wife, Josephine Uwamahoro.
The trial took place in Rukira sector, Ngoma district, closer to the place where Uwamahoro was killed in March 2022. She died after being battered by her husband.
In a verdict issued in April that year, judges ruled that Niyigabura was guilty of murder, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
44-year old man tried for wife's murder
In a community trial held in April 2022, Jean Marie Ayindemeye, a 44-year-old resident of Rulindo district, faced charges of murdering his wife, Anne Marie Mukeshimana, 42.
The trial took place in Shyorongi sector, Rulindo district.
The prosecutors told court that the accused used a hoe to hit his wife to death.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and asked for forgiveness. The court later handed him a 25-year jail sentence. By Hudson Kuteesa, The New Times
