Africa-Press – Rwanda. Convicted serial killer Denis Kazungu is set to return to court to appeal the life imprisonment sentence that was handed him by Nyarugenge Intermediate Court in March 2024, The New Times has learned.
Kazungu, 36, was found guilty of killing at least 13 people, majority of them were women and buried them in a pit he had dug in an outdoor kitchen of his rented residence in Busanza, Kicukiro, Kigali.
He was arrested in September 2023 when authorities went to his residence to intervene in a rental dispute he had with his landlord, only to find out that he was involved in more serious crimes. He particularly confessed to the investigators that he was murdering people.
A subsequent search of his residence uncovered several bodies buried in a large pit located in his outdoor kitchen.
During his trial, prosecutors outlined that Kazungu’s crimes involved rape, murder, robbery, and torture of his victims. Many of his victims were women, whom he would lure from bars and later bring home. He also targeted men, whom he befriended before turning on them, robbing them and killing them.
He was charged with 10 counts, including murder, forgery, and rape. He admitted to have committed all the crimes. Delivering the verdict in March 2024, the presiding judge emphasised Kazungu’s full admission of guilt and the evidence presented throughout the trial, and sentenced him to life in prison.
What is his appeal about
According to information that The New Times has, the defence team appealed against the life imprisonment sentence, citing some mitigating circumstances. The appeal case is due for hearing on June 13 at the High Court.
The defence team claims that Kazungu should have got a lesser sentence since he confessed his crimes and collaborated with the investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary during the various stages of his case procedure.
They also contend that their client was the one who disclosed the crimes he had committed while investigators were initially questioning him about a separate crime. The defence further argues that since the start of the investigation, including during his bail hearing, he has consistently admitted his wrongdoing and sought forgiveness for the charges against him.
As such, they claim his behaviour during the trial should be considered as a mitigating factor, which would lead to a reduction in his sentence from the maximum penalty of life imprisonment to a lesser sentence.
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