The Prosecution on Thursday arraigned Eric Sebanani Kazungu at Nyarugenge Primary Court on charges of killing his wife, Suzanne Murekeyiteto last month. The deceased was found dead in their home in Kimisagara Sector in Nyarugenge District on March 7. Kazungu was arrested shortly after the murder following a preliminary investigation that showed he killed his wife and fled. The suspect arrived in court accompanied by his lawyer. He pleaded guilty to killing the mother of four children, but claimed it was not premeditated. However, prosecution presented evidence to support their claim that Kazungu premeditated the murder and backed their claims with witness accounts, including that of the family maid and neighbours who witnessed the crime. According to the maid, on the fateful day, Kazungu arrived home late at night carrying a machete and a bottle of liquor, and hit his wife on the head with the bottle during an ensuing quarrel. The maid ran out of the house to seek help, but she found when the deceased had already been killed. The prosecutor stated that Kazungu had been in conflict with his wife over their children, including one born out of wedlock. The couple had three children together and one with a different father. After hitting his wife with the bottle, it is alleged that she ran to the children’s bedroom, where he followed her and started hacking her with a machette. After she died, he dismembered her and stuffed her limbs in a bucket. The prosecution requested that Kazungu be remanded for 30 days, citing concerns about him jumping bail and the psychological impact his release could have on the victim's family. The judge will issue a bail ruling on April 25. Meanwhile, the suspect claimed he was not in sound mental state at the time of the act. He stated that he and his wife had a long running conflict, claiming that she used to beat him. He asked for forgiveness from his family and the Rwandan community. During the hearing, Kazungu's lawyer emphasized that his client had committed the crime while not in a sound mental state and requested that he be treated differently because of his mental condition.
