SOUTHERN PROVINCE MUHANGA – Kabgayi Gacaca court has sentenced a former protestant preacher to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of massacres in which 50,000 people perished at Kabgayi. Pastor Athanase Ngirinshuti, a former Director of Shogwe Secondary School, in ex-Gitarama province, was on Tuesday, June 23, convicted to life imprisonment for mobilising, participating and killing Tutsi who had sought refuge at the Kabgayi Catholic Church during the Genocide. Witnesses said Pastor Ngirinshuti helped killers to identify Shogwe residents, in the camp of those who had been displaced. Testimonies also indicated that the accused was seen at Kabgayi collaborating with one Major Anna Marie Nyirahakizimana- who was also recently sentenced to life behind bars by the same court. During the trial, Ngirinshuti however denied the charges.“I have already been charged with genocide crimes in Shogwe. I don’t know anything about Kabgayi. As such I don’t plead guilty to the charges leveled against me.” he said. He added,“Over 500 people sought refuge at my place and I should instead be rewarded for having got them foodstuff from Kabgayi.” However, Court presided over by Fidel Mupagasi, ruled that there was sufficient evidence to prove that Ngirinshuti was in Kabgayi to solicit information and names of residents targeted for mass slaughter. Meanwhile, the same court indefinitely postponed the hearing of the trial of another member of the catholic clergy Brother Dominique Rwesero, who is also implicated in the Kabgayi killings. The court adjourned after Br. Rwesero claimed that he had already been convicted of the charges and he is serving his sentence. “I was given death sentence in the first court ruling, and after an appeal this was reduced to life imprisonment by Nyanza courts. I cannot be re-tried on the same charges,” he argued. Ends
