Relatives satisfied as court sentences killers to death
Five suspects of killing Arusha billionaire Erasto Msuya walks out from Moshi High Court in Kilimanjaro yesterday after sentenced to death by hanging. PHOTO | DIONIS NYATO
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Five suspects were found guilty and the court slapped them with a death penalty.
Moshi. Relatives of Erasto Msuya, a tycoon, who was brutally murdered, have expressed their satisfaction with the ruling of the High Court, Moshi Division.
Five suspects were found guilty and the court slapped them with a death penalty.
There was an air of tension when Judge Salma Maghimbi was reading the ruling, which lasted for over one hour.
Those, who were sentenced to death by hanging are Sharifu Mohamed, Mussa Mangu, Karimu Kuhundwa, Sadick Mohamed and Ally Mussa Majeshi.
Speaking shortly after the ruling the deceased’s sister, Ms Antuja Msuya thanked the court for doing justice to their brother.
“Although the decision wouldn’t bring back our brother, but we are satisfied that justice has finally been served,” said Ms Msuya.
The prominent businessman was brutally murdered on July 26, 2013, in Arusha, where a plan to pay Sh5 million to each of the alleged killers and Sh3 million to each of those operating behind the scene was hatched.
The accused armed with a shot gun shot 12 times at Mr Msuya, the proprietor of various assets in the two cities and elsewhere in Mijohoro in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.
About 50 witnesses and 40 exhibits including the gun was submitted.
The court set free one of the accused in the murder case. The accused, who was set free by the court, is Mr Shwaibu Jumanne.
Judge Maghimbi said the court was satisfied by evidences submitted at the court by the defence side.
The Judge said the convict in their confession statement admitted that they committed the crime.
The defence counsels was led by Mr Hudson Ndusyuepo, Mr Majura Magafu, Mr Emmanuel Safari and Mr John Lundu while the prosecution side was led by principal state attorney Neema Mwanda assisted by Abdallah Chavula.
They alleged that Mr Shariff Mohamed was the ring leader, who coordinated the killing and paid the money required for buying new mobile phone lines used in arranging the killing, including calling Mr Msuya at the scene.
Mr Mohamed had also bought motorcycles used for carrying the alleged killers to the scene and disappeared from the area. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
