IRINGA, Tanzania – Joseph Yustino Muhulila, 28, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court of Tanzania Iringa zone after he was found guilty for killing his four-year-old son Timotheo Joseph.
High Court Judge Angaza Mwipopo in a judgment no 25532 of 2025 said he has found that prosecution has proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt by using sections 196 and 197 of Penal code.
The court records shows that on or between April 9 and 12 2025 in Mkwawa Municipality in Iringa town, the said accused lured the said son where he later killed him and then dismembered the dead boy’s body parts and threw it in a pit latrine and water tank.
It is stated in court that the accused denied all allegations during his interrogation by misleading police where he first stated that the son went missing in unclear circumstances. The prosecution produced evidence which included DNA which confirmed with 99% accuracy that all the dead parts found were for the victim, and that they matched with those from the accused.
13 prosecution witnesses testified on the events leading to the killing and the subsequent dismemberment and disposal of the deceased body. During the trial, the accused confessed to have killed the said son because of financial reasons. The said son was also struck with a stone on his bones to make them softer so that they could be easily disposed of.
Defense attorney Geofrey Mwakasenge on the other hand said the key aspects such as the mapping of the crime scene, use of the DNA, and the mental status of the accused have not been properly considered by the court.
