Several arrested in connection with murdered couple

Rwamagana – Police in Kirehe District has arrested several people suspected to have played a role in the murder of an elderly couple.

Friday, March 02, 2012
The suspected murderers paraded in Kaduha village-Munyaga sector as stunned residents look on. The New Times / S. Rwembeho.

Rwamagana – Police in Kirehe District has arrested several people suspected to have played a role in the murder of an elderly couple.Those arrested include Gilbert Sindayigaya, a son to Mohammed Kanyabigega, 75, one of the victims. The other victim was the culpritsuspect’s step mother only identified as Mukarwego, 65. The elderly deceasedcouple were residents of Kaduha village, Rwamagana District.Sindayigaya was arrested in Cyunuzi village of Kirehe District after a tip off from local residents. Sindayigaya admitted to killing his father over the latter’s his alleged refusal to let him sell timber from the family the latter’s land. But he denied being responsible for the death of his step-mother."I killed my father but my step-mother was killed by my friend Alphonse Nshumbusho. He volunteered to kill her saying she would be troublesome to me”.  Residents told The New Times that Nshumbusho reportedly also killed his father sometime back. On why Sindayigaya committed theis heinous crime, he said it was out of anger."It was out of anger...my father had denied me access to our family riches. The quarrel began when he refused me to cut trees on our farm. I was so completely driven by anger that I can’t even recall when I cut his throat,” he said. The pair, and their four other accomplices, were on Wednesday paraded in their home village where Police and local leaders also warned the residents against committing crime. Marceline Uwizeyimana, a sister to Gilbert Sindayigaya, believes the crime was premeditated, insisting the suspects had hatched the plan. She said she feared for her life because the suspected killers would target her after eliminating the elderly couple. "I never shared anything with my sisters and brothers...they planned the killing. I lived with my father and step-mother amicably, so this made me an enemy of my sisters and brothers.”"They have been doing everything to drive the elderly couple and I out of the land. There is no doubt that as soon as they get out of jail, they will hunt me down too,” she said.Police spokesman Superintendent Theos Badege said the suspects will not escape the long arm of the law. "It is a sad reality that this kind of crime was committed...I, however, advise potential criminals that heavy punishments await them. They can’t escape,” he told the residents. The deceased’s bodies were found inside their house and Police said investigations are still ongoing.