An 18-year-old Ugandan woman stunned an Eldoret court after she confessed to killing her six-month-old son last October. She wanted to free herself from the burden of taking care of him. Barbara Mutenyo told the court how she killed his son in the afternoon and wrapped his body in a sack before throwing it in a well.
The defendant, who appeared to be confused in the dock, claimed that before committing the crime, she was depressed, abandoned and living in fear. The court said that after carrying out the murder, the young mother went into hiding for three days to avoid being arrested by the police who were looking for her after being informed about the incident by the residents. She later emerged and headed to the nearby police station where she confessed to disappearing after killing his son. The police detained her in a cell before she was brought to court to answer the charge of murder.
Mutenyo defended herself before Judge Reuben Nyakundi in a case where she is accused of killing his son, Junior Nesero Butsetse. She is said to have committed the offense on October 28, 2023 at Kabogo area in Kapseret sub-county, Uasin Gishu county.
She is represented by lawyer Robert Makori while the prosecution is led by Mark Mugun. Defending herself through his lawyer, Mutenyo asked the court to grant her a non-custodial sentence in case she is found guilty in order to enable her to receive treatment from the trauma she experienced after the terrible incident.
According to her lawyer, the defendant needs rehabilitation, psychological and social support and counseling so that she can manage herself, considering the circumstances that prompted her to commit the alleged crime. The case will be mentioned on April 18.
