Dar es Salaam: High Court acquits ‘Rama Mla Watu’

Written by DAILY NEWS Reporter.

THE High Court was Friday gripped with grief following a decision to acquit of murder charge a mother and her son, who was found eating human flesh of a toddler at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam about five years ago.

Immediately after Judge Rose Temba declared Khadija Ally and Ramadhani Musa free of the charge of killing one Salome Yohana (3) in 2008, family members of the kid broke into tears, disbelieving what was happening.

“They have released Rama and his mother. I do not know now what I should do,” one Furaha Mussa, who was living with the kid before meeting her death was heard telling other members of her family through phone.

The mother of the child, Upendo Danstan, wailed loudly while saying, “They have released the killers of my daughter.”Such a move attracted attention of people around the court premises.

In her judgment, Judge Temba started acquitting Musa of the charge after receiving a report from Doctor Mdeme Erastus dated June 20, 2012, indicating that the accused was mentally retarded. At the time the offence was committed, Musa was aged 16 years old.  

“This court is satisfied that Musa committed the offence he was charged with. According to the report of the doctor that he is mentally retarded, this court cannot convict him of the offence,” the judge said and proceeded to order that he remains under the psychiatric unit of the hospital.

Considering the fact that Musa had mentioned his mother to have killed the kid and after considering the report of the doctor, State Attorney Cecilia Mkonongo, who was prosecuting the case, informed the court that the Republic would not wish to further prosecute Khadija of the offence.

Following the remarks by the prosecution to enter nole prosecue to the charge against Khadija, the judge had no other option than to discharge her from custody where she was being held jointly with her son (Musa).

Reading facts of the case, the State Attorney alleged that on April 25, 2008, at 8.30pm, Salome Yohana (deceased) was seen outside playing with Ramadhani Musa (the accused) with another child. All of a sudden, Salome disappeared under undefined circumstances. 

Her parents tried to look for her that night unsuccessfully. The deceased body without its head was later found lying in the toilet of the two accused persons (Musa and Khadija). The following day, Musa was caught at the gate of MNH with the head of the deceased, eating its fresh.

The police arrested him and after being interrogated, Musa named his mother (Khadija) as the one who had killed Salome using an axe. Having being arrested too, Khadija conceded that the deceased body was found inside their toilet covered with a shirt owned by her son (Musa).

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/17819-high-court-acquits-rama-mla-watu