The trial of three men accused of murdering three young female children and injuring a boy started Thursday in Nyamagabe District.

The shocking incident occurred last year in the rural Nyarwungo Cell, Nkomane Sector, Nyamagabe District, Southern Province.

Gaspard Ukwizagira aka Nyamacenga, Felix Ntibitonda and Emmanuel Nzasabimfura are accused of committing aggravated murder and stealing livestock which the children were looking after.

The suspects were arraigned before Nyamagabe Intermediate court in a public hearing witnessed by hundreds of residents.

Officials said the court had to sit in the rural Nkomane Sector to help residents follow the proceedings.

Prosecution detailed how the murder unfolded in  a chilling testimony that shocked many people. 

Prosecutor Desire Mbaragijimana told court that on December 29, 2013 around mid-day, the trio murdered three litruns in cold blood before taking two goats and a sheep the victims were looking                                                                         after.

The victims were identified as Emerence Uwizeyimana, 8, Marie Nyiranzacahinyeretse, 10, and Marguerite Mukashema, 10. A fourth child, Simeon Ndabamenye, 12, sustained severe injuries after being stabbed and left for dead but luckily survived, the prosecutor said.

The victims were stabbed  with knives and had deep cuts on their throats, the court heard.

Prosecution presented to the court what it called evidences of the suspects’ hand in the gruesome murder, including lab tests on blood samples found on some of the suspects’ clothes that were recovered during investigations into the murder. The tests were carried  out in Germany for reliability and efficiency, prosecutor Mbaragijimana told court.

During the hearing, one of the suspects, Ukwizagira pleaded guilty to the murder and theft charges, but his co-accused denied any involvement. Ukwizagira, however, maintained that they acted together.

Prosecution prayed for maximum sentence (life in jail) for the accused. The court will announce its decision on September 30.