Edward Anyoli and Herbert Ssempogo
10 November 2009
Kampala — The 28-year-old Lydia Draru yesterday reportedly confessed to slaying James Kazini at her home in Namuwongo.
Recording an extra-judicial statement at Buganda Road Court, she said she clobbered the general on the head twice and on the shoulder.
The two had had an affair for about three years. Kazini was the one paying her house rent.
Speaking in Lugbara, Draru told the magistrate, John Wekesa, that she acted in self-defence as a quarrel between them turned violent.
Kazini attempted to strangle the woman as the argument escalated, the court heard. It was then that she picked an iron bar and hit him.
Draru said Kazini accused her of stealing an unspecified amount of money and turning down an invitation to dinner. She wept as she narrated her ordeal. It took Wekesa five hours to record the testimony. An extra-judicial statement is a confession by a suspect before a magistrate admitting committing the offence.
After the statement, Draru was led back to the Central Police Station pending a medical examination. She apparently sustained injuries on the neck during the scuffle.
Earlier, Draru, dressed in a black jacket, a green blouse and blue jeans, arrived at the Police station at about 9:00am.
There, in the presence of senior Police officers, the woman allegedly confessed to killing the army officer. Immediately, a charge-and-caution statement was recorded.
She recounted that she spent most of Monday with Kazini, parting at about 8:00pm. However, they quarrelled before they parted. Draru, who constantly sobbed, later changed into red attire on the Police's request. The clothes she was wearing earlier are to be used as exhibits, it emerged. A 17-year-old girl, who is said to have witnessed the general's last minutes, also appeared at the station. She recorded a statement. The Police said she would be given "protection", meaning she might be a state witness. Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said investigations were ongoing.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
