Children seek justice for killed mother
What you need to know:
- The children claim the suspects are using their wealth and influence to evade justice, while the family is struggling to afford legal representation, and the children are worried that justice will not be served if they don't receive support.
The children of the late Jessica Mutesi, who was killed in a suspected ritual sacrifice in May, are seeking justice for their mother's death, following the release of the suspects on police bond.
The children claim despite evidence linking the suspects to their mother's death, the suspects have been released without being held accountable.
The children claim the suspects are using their wealth and influence to evade justice, while the family is struggling to afford legal representation, and the children are worried that justice will not be served if they don't receive support.
The children feel helpless, alleging that the police investigation was compromised because they couldn't afford to bribe officials. They accuse the police of releasing the suspects prematurely on police bond without them being charged in court.
Mr Jackson Grace Kalimu, one of the sons of the late Mutesi, said they are appealing to civil society organisations that advocate for women's rights and the rights of orphans to intervene.
“I am the only one in the family actively pursuing justice in our mother’s murder case, and I’m doing it without any support,’’ Mr Kalimu told Monitor at the weekend.
"Every hour, day, and week that passes, only shows signs that justice may never be served simply because we are poor. I am calling on law firms to come to our aid. We need justice for our mother’s death,’’ he said
Mr Kalimu expressed concern over how the police in Njeru are handling the investigation into their mother’s murder, describing it as questionable and full of loopholes.
“This is a matter of public interest, yet the decision to grant police bond to the key suspect without presenting them in court reflects a serious lack of transparency in our mother’s murder case,’’ he said.
The suspects were reportedly released on police bond between 7pm and 8pm on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Ssezibwa Region Police Spokesperson Ms Hellen Butoto confirmed that the case file had been submitted to the Resident State Attorney, reviewed by the Resident Senior State Attorney, and further examined by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Ms Butoto said the suspects were released pending further investigations into the matter. She said following the Resident Senior State Attorney’s, advice, only one suspect identified as Nicholas Gasyodo, aka Dan, was charged with murder and appeared in Njeru Magistrate Court, where he was remanded to Bugungu Government Prisons until July 1.
Background
Three suspects, including Gasyodo, were arrested following the killing of Mutesi.
The victim’s body was exhumed after Gasyodo led police to the crime scene, where she had been killed and buried.
