Bodaboda rider in court over alleged murder of his son
What you need to know:
- Muhulila, 28, is accused of committing the heinous act on April 11, 2025, in Lukosi Street, Mkwawa Ward, within Iringa Municipality.
Iringa. A motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) rider, Joseph Muhulila, has been arraigned before the Iringa Resident Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of premeditated murder for allegedly killing his biological son, Timotheo Muhulila, aged 6.
Muhulila, 28, is accused of committing the heinous act on April 11, 2025, in Lukosi Street, Mkwawa Ward, within Iringa Municipality.
He made his first court appearance on Thursday May 15, 2025, before Resident Magistrate Rehema Mayagilo.
Senior State Attorney Radhia Njovu read the charges to the accused, stating that he committed the offense contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code, Chapter 16, as amended in 2022.
Following the reading of the charges, the accused was not required to enter a plea, as the magistrate’s court lacks jurisdiction to hear murder cases, which are reserved for the High Court.
Under Tanzanian law, murder is a non-bailable offense. Consequently, Muhulila has been remanded in custody until the case comes up for mention on May 28, 2025.
Section 148(5)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Chapter 20, explicitly denies bail for such capital offenses.
Fire and Rescue Force, demolished the toilet structure and successfully retrieved the body parts of the deceased child.
Earlier, a public statement released by the Iringa Regional Police revealed that Muhulila was arrested on suspicion of killing his son, dismembering the body, and dumping the remains into a pit latrine in an attempt to conceal the evidence.
According to the Iringa Regional Police Commander, Allan Bukumbi, the police, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Force, demolished the toilet structure and successfully retrieved the body parts of the deceased child.
