Court upholds life sentence for soldier who killed five civilians

The Military High Court on Friday, February 7, upheld the life sentence handed to Sergeant Gervais Minani, who was convicted of murdering five civilians in Nyamasheke District in November 2024. Minani, 39, had appealed the life sentence handed down by a military tribunal on December 9, after finding him guilty of premeditated murder, unlawful use of a firearm, and destruction of military property. The tribunal also decided to strip Minani of all his military ranks. ALSO READ: Nyamasheke: RDF soldier sentenced to life for killing civilians The incident occurred on November 13, 2024, in Rushyarara Cell, Karambi Sector, where Minani fired 60 rounds from an SMG-3945 firearm, killing five people in a bar after he had an argument with the bar owner over an unpaid bill. He was immediately arrested by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The victims were identified as 17-year-old Denis Benemugabo, 20-year-old Onesphore Habumugisha, 44-year-old Zephanie Sindayiheba, 35-year-old Jonas Muhawenimana, and 51-year-old Ezra Nsekambabaye. ALSO READ: Nyamasheke: RDF soldier arraigned for murder of civilians During the appeal hearing, held publicly at the crime scene in Karambi Sector on February 6, Minani and his lawyer, Jean Claude Murigande, argued that he acted under provocation, claiming he had been abused and insulted by the victims. His lawyer also argued that key witness testimonies had been overlooked, which could serve as mitigating factors for a lenient sentence. However, the military prosecution maintained that Minani had never shown remorse for his actions, despite admitting to them and asking for forgiveness. Prosecutors emphasized that the killings were premeditated, as Minani took four hours to obtain a weapon before opening fire on civilians who had not been involved in the dispute. ALSO READ: Nyamasheke: RDF soldier arrested after shooting civilians The High Court dismissed Minani’s appeal. The court confirmed the tribunal’s ruling, stating that all evidence had been properly considered and that there were no legal flaws in the initial judgment. Consequently, the life imprisonment sentence remains in place. The court also upheld the decision to strip Minani of his military ranks.

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Court upholds life sentence for soldier who killed five civilians