A Gacaca Court of Appeal sitting at Kiziguro parish playground in Gatsibo District, yesterday, handed a life sentence with special provisions, to Augustin Nkundabazungu for Genocide. Nkundabazungu was first sentenced in absentia by the same court. He was found jointly found guilty of several counts, with Jean Baptiste Gatete, the then Mayor of Murambi. Nkundabazungu allegedly planned and organised the killings of Tutsi in the area, especially at the Kiziguro parish, where thousands had sought refuge. “Basing on the evidence and testimonies from witnesses, the court has found Nkundabazungu guilty of mobilising people to commit Genocide, leading Interahamwe militias to kill Tutsi in Murambi and setting up roadblocks where many Tutsi were killed,” the court ruled. “Nkundabazungu also participated in many attacks that killed Tutsi at Kiziguro parish. The court therefore sentences Nkundabazungu to life imprisonment with special provisions”. Earlier during the hearing, one of his accomplices, Jean Baptiste Ntaganda, a.k.a Kaboko, accused him of killing many people. “He led us to kill people in Kinunga and Rukungu cells. He would shoot those who tried to escape the machetes,” he told court. Court announced the verdict at around 2 pm, in front of many survivors of the Genocide. However, the defendant questioned the court’s jurisdictions, arguing his case was complex and needed to be tried by the High Court. Consequently, he refused to sign court documents after his sentence was pronounced. “I cannot sign on these papers … Only God is the Judge,” he said. Asked if his refusal to sign would affect the court’s verdict, one of the judges said: “It’s his will not to sign but we have accomplished our job, justice has prevailed.” Nkundabazungu, was arrested in Uganda and extradited in August, last year. Ends
