Man kills pregnant wife, stabs mother-in-law, neighbor before taking own life
Morogoro Regional Police Commander Wilbroad Mutafungwa
What you need to know:
Police are yet to establish the cause of the homicide but say the man stubbed his mother-in-law and neighbour before forcing his wife to take herbal medicine
Morogoro. Four people have been reported dead in Morogoro after a 54-year-old man decided to kill his pregnant wife, stubbed his mother-in-law and a neighbor to death, before taking own life.
Morogoro Regional Police Commander Wilbroad Mutafungwa has said the killings occurred on Thursday, May 24, this year at 11pm in Dumila, Kilosa District.
He named the deceased as Michael Mwandu (54) and his wife, Ms Leonora Ogora (37), others are mother in-law, Ms Magreth Magere (59) and a neighbour, Ms Salma Mkanga (52).
He said the potential cause is yet to be known, noting that on May 25, 2019 Mr Salehe Seif called the police informing them that his wife had been killed close to his home.
“Mr Seif said Mr Mwandu arrived at his home the previous night asking for permission to allow his wife (Ms Salma Mkanga) to escort his pregnant wife (Ms Leonora Ogora) to traditional midwives, just to find her dead the following morning,” he said, adding.
“Mr Seif accompanied by a police officer went to Mr Mwandu’s home where the accused and his wife were all found dead with a cup containing remains of herbal medicines on the scene.”
Regional police boss said preliminary investigation revealed that Mr Mwandu was involved in a dispute with his wife after arriving from Turiani on May 24, 2019.
He said the wife was beaten on accusations that she had had an affair with another man whi8le Mwandu was away.
According to him, Mr Mwandu then returned at his home where he forcefully asked his wife to take cup herbal medicines, before following suit to take the death count four in a few minutes.
He said police were looking for the person at the center of the dispute, calling on citizens to avoid taking laws at hands.
Mr Mutafungwa said currently, police are questioning the deceased’s son aged 11 who witnessed the killings.
The Regional Police chief said Mr Mwandu had two wives including the first wife Ms Mwajuma Mohamed (42).
Bodies of the four have been preserved at the Morogoro Referral Hospital mortuary for investigations.
