A 31-year-old man who killed three people in Muhanga District late last month has been sentenced to life in jail.Jean Uwihoreye, who was better known in his home village as Bisazi, was found guilty of aggravated murder by a judge at the High Court in Nyanza District.The verdict was pronounced yesterday afternoon. The convict was not in court when the sentence was announced.While delivering the ruling, Judge Emmanuel Manirakiza said the court found no mitigating circumstances which could have led to a lesser sentence for the man.He said the sentence is based “on the nature of the crime he [Uwihoreye] committed and its consequences to the victims, their relatives and the entire society”. “The court finds the accused guilty of murder and sentences him to life in jail,” Judge Manirakiza ruled.Uwihoreye, who is married with seven children, had pleaded guilty during the trial.By press time, it was not yet clear whether he would appeal the verdict. ‘Machete spree’ During the trial, court heard how on the night of May 28, 2013, Uwihoreye went amok and killed three people with a machete.He was arrested a few hours after the incident after he called local leaders and the police to reveal where he was hiding.Justice prevails The incident occurred in Mututu village, Nyarusange Sector of Muhanga District.His victims were identified as Felix Habiyaremye, 29, Emmanuel Harerimana, 40, and Jean Rugaragaza, 32.Uwihoreye is said to have hacked the three individuals to death after a failed attempt to kill his village leader who had earlier reported him for illegally felling government trees. Subsequently he was fined Rwf 50,000.After the verdict, Uwitije Gaudelia, a wife of one of the victims, told The New Times she was happy with the sentence. “At last justice has prevailed,” she said.“I have been praying for the sentence. I do not wish to encounter him anymore.”
