Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyamagabe District arrested one Bernadette Mukankaka and her three children for allegedly battering their father to death.

According to the Police, the victim, Francois Nshimiyimana and his spouse Mukankaka broke into a fight minutes after they returned home drunk on August 19.

“In the middle of the fight, their twin daughters - Theodette Musabeyezu, Odette Dusabeyezu (both aged 17 years) and son Philibert Niyitanga (15 years) intervened and overpowered their father, battering him unconsciously,” said Chief Superintendent Hubert Gashagaza, the Southern region Police spokesperson.

Nshimiyimana was rushed to the University teaching hospital of Butare (CHUB) but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Police arrested the four suspects who are currently detained at Gasaka Police station in Nyamagabe.

Although investigations are still going on, preliminary findings show that the bloody incident was fueled by consumption of illicit brew and property disputes.

CSP Gashagaza added that police normally embarks on preventive measures by educating the public about the dangers of narcotics and all illicit substances.

“This family should have reported any form of misunderstanding they had, rather than fighting that resulted into death of one of their own,” Gashagaza said.

The four suspects in Nshimiyimana’s death have confessed to the crime.

Murder is a crime that attracts a life sentence while manslaughter attacks a jail term of between 10 and 15 years.