WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Police in Rubavu are detaining a 25-year old man who allegedly killed his three-year old daughter recently.

The police identified the suspect as Solomon Akingeneye, a resident of Gisenyi. The deceased was identified as Samona Umutesi.

Working on a tip off by residents, Akingeneye was arrested on the 17th of July. Sources allege that the suspect killed the girl by continuously hitting her on the building’s door steps. Akingeneye denies stipulated charge.

"I’m here at the police station on accusations of murdering my own daughter but it is not true. I did not kill her. People who are accusing me were not there at the time of the accident. 

Umutesi died one day after I had bought many clothes for her from the neighboring Congo town of Goma,” he said.
He explained that the deceased died in an accident while playing with fellow children.

"I just entered and found everything disorderly in my bedroom after children had disorganised it.

I became furious and came out of the house shouting at them asking who was responsible.

The children immediately dashed out in fear of punishment and in the process Umutesi fell down on the steps, hit her head on the floor and became unconscious,” Akingeneye narrated.

Akingeneye said that her deceased daughter could have been pushed down by her brothers in the process. "I saw her fall down.

I immediately called her mother and we rushed to the nearest hospital but we were both surprised after the doctor examining her she said Umutesi was dead.”

Akingeneye claimed that those accusing him were his wife’s relatives with whom he had a grudge.

"I’m innocent. Some people accuse me of being a drug addict and mentally unstable which is absolutely fault.

The police should contact my parents or take me to the hospital for medical checkups. I’m normal and did not kill my daughter,” he stressed.

Rubavu police station commander Inspector Gael Rutayisire said the suspect would be arraigned to court on murder charges.

"Solomon is a suspect and he will remain a suspect until proven guilty by the court. We have done our work,” he said.

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