The Muhanga Intermediate Court last evening sentenced a man to life in prison after he was convicted for the gruesome murder last year of a mother and her five children in Kamusenyi Cell, Byimana Sector in Ruhango District.

During the proceedings last month, the suspect, Steven Baribwirumuhungu, 31, had pleaded not guilty to the homicide that happened in the deceased family home.

Passing the ruling, the judge, Adolphe Udahemuka said the conviction was premised on the prosecution’s submissions and the fact that the convict had initially pleaded guilty, and provided in detail how he executed the family, only to change his plea.

The judge said the accounts by the witnesses were also consistent.

Baribwurumuhungu, who was arrested from Ngororero District days after he committed the murder, killed Josephine Kankesha and her children after the family, which had been hosting him, learnt that he was a wanted man who had escaped from prison.

Kankesha’s family had gotten the information from her husband, Sylvestre Ngayaberura, who had been incarcerated with the convict before he escaped.

The same court convicted Leonidas Simbarubusa to five years, over his role in sheltering Baribwirumuhungu, well knowing he was wanted for the murder of the family.

Other two suspects in the case Livin Uwayisenga 24, and Tito Mugemanyi 24 were acquitted by the judge, who said that prosecution did not adduce enough evidence to link them to both the prime suspect and the crime scene.