Police in Rwamagana have arrested a middle aged man for allegedly hacking his wife and baby to death over suspected infidelity.The suspect, (name withheld) is a resident of Agatare Village, Gihumuza Cell in Gahengeri Sector. He is alleged to have killed Egidie Murekatete and their three-month old baby on Thursday following a bitter quarrel.
The deceased’s bodies were taken to Rwamagana Hospital for post-mortem, while the suspect is admitted at Kigali Central University Hospital (CHUK) after he tried, unsuccessfully, to commit suicide after the murder by slashing his throat.
Emile Murwanashyaka, a neighbour of the suspect, said that the couple had been in unstable marriage for some time.
He added that the suspect had agreed to settle the matter with the support of the local leaders on the fateful day.
Return to death:
“It was a brutal act; the man killed his wife and child after doubting the loyalty of his spouse. He never believed he was the biological father of the slain baby,” Murwanashyaka said, adding that the murder happened hours after the suspect successfully convinced the deceased to return to their home after days of separation.
“She met her death the very day she was reunited with her husband. The suspect had agreed before local leaders to stop harassing the wife.”
According to police, preliminary investigations show that the suspect used a machete to commit the murder, inflicting severe wounds on the deceased’s face, neck and other parts of the body.
The deceased’s body was found lying in a pool of blood by neighbors who had gone to check on the family following the loud quarrel.
Rwamagana Police Commander, Superintendent Richard Rubagumya, said police recovered a machete from the scene of crime.
The accused will face murder charges as soon as investigations were completed, he said.
Murder, according article 140 of the Penal Code, is punishable by life imprisonment.
Recent statistics rank Rwamagana among the first two districts affected by GBV in Eastern Privince
The New Times
