Man Who Killed His Brother Ordered to Mental Health Facility
Songea court orders Madaha Majenga, who killed his brother, to be treated in a mental health facility after confirming he was not of sound mind during the crime.
Court Orders Man Who Killed His Brother to Be Hospitalized in Mental Health Facility
Friday, February 21, 2025
By Janeth Mushi
Summary:
On December 18, 2023, Madaha Majenga allegedly killed his brother, Zengo Majenga, before fleeing the scene in a state of undress. He was later apprehended by neighbors.
Arusha – The Songea District Court has ruled that Madaha Majenga, who was facing charges of killing his brother Zengo Majenga, be placed under the care of a mental health institution, as he is deemed an offender with mental illness.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Emmanuel Kawishe, followed the consideration of both parties' arguments and the findings from a mental health examination of the defendant.
In his judgment on February 18, 2025, which was made available online via the court’s website, Judge Kawishe stated that, while the evidence showed that Madaha committed the crime, his mental state at the time indicated he was not of sound mind.
Details:
Judge Kawishe noted that while it was indisputable that Zengo died due to unnatural causes resulting from a confrontation with the defendant, the medical assessment revealed Madaha's impaired mental state. This diagnosis confirmed that Madaha was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the crime.
The case, which involved testimony from both sides, included defense arguments suggesting that Madaha was suffering from mental illness when he committed the murder.
Initially, defense attorney Lazaro Simba requested that Madaha undergo a mental health evaluation, a request that was approved by the prosecution. Upon examination by the Isanga Mental Health Institute, it was confirmed that Madaha was experiencing an abnormal mental state during the incident.
Referring to Section 13 of the Penal Code, which deals with the defendant’s mental state at the time of committing a crime, Judge Kawishe ruled that, given Madaha’s mental illness, he should be transferred to Isanga Mental Health Institute for treatment as part of the legal process.
The judge further clarified that, had Madaha been found guilty of manslaughter, he would have faced life imprisonment. However, due to his mental illness, treatment in a psychiatric facility was deemed more appropriate than a prison sentence.
The tragic incident, which occurred on December 18, 2023, was detailed by witnesses, including Dr. Hassan Tambuko and Sergeant Faizi, who explained how they arrived at the scene to find Madaha naked, exhibiting signs of mental illness, and responding with incoherent speech.
The postmortem revealed that Zengo died from head injuries, confirming the unusual nature of his death.
In conclusion, the court accepted the defense’s request and ordered that Madaha be sent to the mental health facility for treatment.
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