Mukeshabatware appeals

HUYE – The Ngoma Sector Gacaca Appeal Court last weekend heard the appeal of popular radio artist Dismas Mukeshabatware who was in October this year sentenced to 19 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide. The court heard testimonies from three defence witnesses produced by Mukeshabatware. However, they could not explain the death of a victim only identified as Lucie and her three children, the reason Mukeshabatware was handed a 19 year jail term. The Ngoma Gacaca court found Mukeshabatware guilty of complicity in the death of Lucie and her three children; whose house he is said to have occupied shortly after. The case was adjourned until Wednesday December 16 when the verdict will be read. Meanwhile, a local musician, was last week handed in absentia, a life sentence with special provisions for his role in Genocide committed in the present Kigoma Sector in Huye district. Juvénal Masabo Nyagezi, who worked with the Ministry of Environment before the Genocide is accused of among other crimes; being a member of a clique that terrorised people in the former Kinyamakara commune as well as being a member of Interahamwe. He was also accused of inciting the public to kill Tutsis and possession of firearms. He was found guilty on all counts. In 2001, Masabo was tried by ordinary courts where he was found guilty of Genocide crimes and sentenced to six years. He was released shortly after because he had already spent seven years in jail. However, his release attracted outcry from relatives of the alleged victims. Consequently a Gacaca retrial of his case was mandated by the National Gacaca jurisdiction. Others handed life sentences include; Ernest Nkubito, the former Bourgmestre of Kinyamakara, Origène Utabazi, Alexandre Ndagijimana, Joshua Mbarubukeye and another offender only identified as Gasirabo. Ends