Kayanza : five years in jail for fatally beating a man

SOS Médias Burundi

Kayanza, November 27, 2025 – The Kayanza First Instance Court, in Butanyerera province in northern Burundi, sentenced a resident of Muhweza village to five years in prison, a fine of 100,000 Burundi francs (Bif), and 5 million Bif in damages to be paid to the victim’s family on Tuesday, November 25.

The verdict concerns events that occurred on November 9. The defendant was prosecuted for violently beating a man, causing his death. In court, he admitted to the act but maintained that he did not intend to kill. According to him, he acted believing he was dealing with a thief who had come to attack his home.

A body found far from the scene of the violence

One detail particularly puzzles residents : the victim’s body was found in a different village, one other than the one where the attack took place, and where he did not live. This situation continues to raise many questions within the community.

Many residents had come to attend the hearing. While some expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, others considered the sentence too lenient given the seriousness of the crime. According to them, the accused could have been sentenced to a harsher term, even life jail.