Three sentenced to death by hanging in murder case involving Geita Gold Mine employee

Geita. The Geita Registry of High Court of Tanzania in Geita Region has delivered a death sentence to three of the four defendants found guilty in the murder of Milembe Suleiman, a 43-year-old former employee of Geita Gold Mine (GGM).

The sentencing follows a rigorous trial where the prosecution’s evidence proved the defendants' involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.

Judge Kelvin Mhina, presiding over the case in the Geita, announced the verdict between 9:02 AM and 11:12 AM on Tuesday.

The court found the first, second, and third defendants guilty while acquitting the fourth defendant, Musa Lubingo.

The convicted individuals are Dayfath Maunga, 30, Safari Lubingo, 54 and Genja Pastory.

The court determined that the critical issues included verifying Milembe’s death, the nature of her death, the involvement of the accused, and whether the murder was premeditated.

Judge Mhina confirmed that Milembe was indeed deceased, her body found with significant injuries as per the autopsy conducted by the sixth witness who is a forensic doctor.

The injuries detailed in the doctor’s report—measuring 14, 8, and 6 centimeters on her head, neck, and arm—indicated a brutal and unnatural death.

The evidence presented included DNA analysis, CCTV footage, and the defendants' statements.

The DNA evidence from the dagger used in the murder matched the third accused, Genja Pastory, whose fingerprints were also found on the murder weapon.

Pastory’s confession, along with his guidance to the police on where he discarded the weapon and victim’s phones, was instrumental in securing the conviction.

The court also considered the testimony of the 11th witness, who recorded the caution statement from the first accused, Dayfath Maunga.

This statement revealed Maunga’s role in planning the murder and hiring the killers, corroborating with other evidence and the caution statements of the second and third defendants.

Although the fourth accused, Musa Lubingo, was initially involved, he was deemed to have withdrawn from the murder plot based on evidence from the eighth prosecution witness.

The prosecution, led by government prosecutor Scolastica Teffe, confirmed that there were no prior offenses recorded against the accused.

Defense lawyer Laurent Bugoti requested a lawful sentence given the nature of the crime.

In his ruling, Judge Mhina sentenced Dayfath Maunga, Safari Lubingo, and Genja Pastory to death by hanging.

They have the right to appeal the judgment if they wish to contest the verdict.