Sergeant Minani Gervais arraigned in Military tribunal for killing 5 civilians in Nyamasheke district

Nyamasheke, 3 December 2024

Sergeant Minani Gervais was arraigned before a military tribunal today on murder charges related to the deaths of five civilians in Nyamasheke district on 13 November 2024, as a panel of military judges formally read the charges against him.

He was arrested shortly after the shooting with assistance from local residents and is now standing trial in the presence of the victims' families and the community.

During the court proceeding, his defence counsel raised unfavorable health condition of the accused, claiming he was unhealthy to stand trial, but medical professionals confirmed his good health, leading the judges not to grant the defence counsel’s request.

The prosecution has charged Sgt Minani with premeditated murder, unlawful use of a firearm, and destruction of military property, requesting life imprisonment for the murder charge, five years for the theft and damage to military equipment, and one year for the unlawful use of a weapon.

The court has scheduled the verdict to be delivered on 9 December 2024, at 2:00 PM.

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Umusirikare ukurikiranweho kwica abasivili batanu i Nyamasheke yatangiye kuburanishwa

Nyamasheke, 3 Ukuboza 2024

Sgt Minani Gervais yashyikirijwe Urukiko rwa Gisirikare uyu munsi aregwa ibyaha byo kwica abasivili batanu mu karere ka Nyamasheke ku itariki ya 13 Ugushyingo 2024. Yasomewe ibyaha aregwa birimo icyaha cy’ubwicanyi ku bushake, kwica bidategetswe n’umukuru no guhisha no kuzimiza intwaro ku bushake.

Yafashwe nyuma yo gukora icyaha ku bufatanye n'abaturage aho ubu aburanishirizwa mu ruhame ahari imiryango yagiriye nabi n'abaturage b’aho icyaha cyakorewe.

Mu gihe cy'urubanza, abamwunganira bagaragaje impungenge z'ubuzima bwe, ariko abaganga bavuze ko ameze neza, bituma abacamanza bavuga ko ari uburyo bwo gutinza urubanza.

Ubushinjacyaha bwamusabiye igihano cyo gufungwa ubuzima bwose ku cyaha cyo kwica, imyaka itanu ku cyaha cyo kwiba no kwangiza ibikoresho bya gisirikare, n'umwaka umwe ku cyaha cyo gukoresha imbunda mu buryo butemewe.

Urukiko rwategetse ko urubanza ruzasomwa ku itariki ya 9 Ukuboza 2024, saa munani z'amanywa.