GASABO - A Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) soldier who recently shot to death six people yesterday appeared before the Military Tribunal from where he pleaded guilty to the murders.

Pte Jean Bosco Bizimana Misoro on the night of September 25 went on rampage in Kimisagara, a Kigali suburb and instantly killed five innocent civilians and a military policeman in what he called ‘self defence.’

He is accused of two counts; murder and armed robbery but he pleaded guilty of only murder.

"I killed those people because they had suspected me to be a thief because of a misunderstanding that ensued between me and a motorist who had just transported me to that destination,” he told the court that was presided over by Capt Michel Mbabazi.

He said that he did not use the gun to rob anyone despite allegations by prosecution that prior to the shootings he had robbed a mobile phone and some money from a one Jean Claude Bagambiki at gunpoint.

Prosecution, however, maintained that the culprit did not act on impulse because of the circumstances that preceded the killing.

"First he left his defence (at Yanze Electrogaz station, in Nyarugenge) armed with a gun stolen from his colleague. Then he went on rampage and shot these innocent people, even another motive may come up after all investigations,” said Lt Dennis Ruyonza, a military prosecutor.

He was pleading to court to grant a court order that will provisionally detain Misoro and his two co-accused so that prosecution finalizes the investigations before the trial starts in substance.

Also in detention are Phillipe Ayimana and one Jean de Dieu Semana who are accused of having conspired in hiding Misoro even after knowing of the atrocities he had committed.

Another alleged conspirator, Brigitte Mukasarama, who is also the wife to Ayimana, was not detained according to the prosecutor because she has a young baby whom she could not be detained with.

"We need them to stay in detention for 30 days as we gather all the evidence…there may even be more suspects and if these people are granted provisional release, they may tamper with this evidence,” said Ruyonza.

Misoro was arrested on September 29 four days after the atrocities and the delay of his arrest despite a massive search that was mounted after the killings was, according to prosecution, caused by some of those people who did not provide information.

The suspect, a member of the 14th battalion was arrested from the Cyohoha marshland in Bugesera District.

"He was communicating with them using his mobile phone during that time yet it had been announced by police that he was a killer on the run,” said the prosecutor.

He added, "For instance, he called Mukasarama telling her that he would be coming to their home and indeed he came and even told them that he had killed people but they fed him and let him go without informing the authorities.”

Ayimana confirmed that Misoro came to his home in Ntarama Sector in Bugesera District but  communicated to the area leader 30 minutes after the suspect had left.

Semana, also a resident of Ntarama was held culpable by prosecution of the same crime of conspiring in hiding the culprit because of the several calls he received from Misoro between the time of the shootings and the arrest.

"And interestingly, when we got to him during the initial investigations, he told us that he had not talked to Misoro for several months. We later found out after getting a call list from MTN (the cell phone service provider),” said Ruyonza.

While Misoro’s co-accused wanted to be granted provisional release, Misoro, 30 did not ask for this.

Mbabazi set the date for ruling on the deliberations for today and the trial in substance will start at a later date after the investigations are concluded. Misoro may face life imprisonment on conviction.

Ends