Karusi : 20 years in jail for the murder of a mother

SOS Médias Burundi

Karusi, May 15, 2025 — The First Instance Court of Karusi (central-eastern Burundi) sentenced Nestor Ndayikengurutse on Wednesday, May 14, to 20 years in prison for the murder of a mother of four. The crime occurred in Kigoma village, in the district of Buhiga. The convicted man will also have to pay 25 million Burundi francs in compensation to the victim’s family.

The trial, held in flagrante delicto, sparked strong emotion among the local population. According to testimonies presented at the hearing, the victim was attacked for no apparent reason. The accused, who denied the charges throughout the trial, contested the verdict and pleaded for rehabilitation.

Despite his protests, the court found the evidence against him sufficiently compelling. “We welcome the court’s decision. All that remains is to hope that the sentence will be effectively carried out for the well-being of the orphaned children,” said a relative of the deceased after the verdict.

The presiding judge, for his part, assured the family that justice will be done and that the verdict will be executed in accordance with the law. This case comes amidst the strengthening of measures against impunity in Karusi province, where judicial authorities now want to send a clear message : acts of violence will not go unpunished.

Many in the community hope that this exemplary judgment will deter other potential aggressors and contribute to the safety of women in the region.

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Defendants in a courtroom at the Rumonge court in southwestern Burundi, November 2024 ©️ SOS Médias Burundi