One-Year Jail Term for Teen Who Killed Girlfriend

Teen Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Killing Girlfriend After Being Rejected

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Mbeya, Tanzania – The High Court’s Sub-Registry in Mbeya has sentenced Humphrey Ngogo to 12 months in prison for the unlawful killing of his girlfriend, Faraja Shabani, during a domestic incident that turned fatal. At the time of the incident in September 2022, Ngogo was 17 years old.

The verdict, delivered on March 25, 2025, by Justice Mussa Pomo, concluded a criminal case that stemmed from a tragic altercation in the Mkuyu area of Iganzo Ward, Mbeya Region. The court found that Ngogo killed Faraja without premeditation, following a heated disagreement over her refusal to engage in sexual activity.

According to court records, Ngogo went to Faraja's home with the intention of initiating intimacy. When Faraja declined, he attempted to silence her screams by grabbing her neck. As she continued to cry out, he retrieved an axe and struck her on the head. Upon realizing she was unresponsive, Ngogo fled the scene.

Key eyewitnesses included the local neighborhood chairperson, Justine Daiwelo, who arrived shortly after being alerted by a local official. He testified that he found blood pooled beneath the bed and soaked into the carpet in Faraja's room. Police investigator Sergeant David also confirmed the presence of blood and an axe with a metal handle found in the corridor of the house.

Another witness, David Edward, also a minor at the time, testified under legal provisions protecting child witnesses. He recounted seeing Faraja cooking and speaking with Ngogo in the garden area shortly before the tragedy. Later, he witnessed Ngogo fleeing the residence and jumping the compound fence. That evening, he heard that Faraja had been killed and immediately informed her mother, who reported the matter to a local official.

During his defense, Ngogo claimed that earlier that day he had seen Faraja speaking with another man, whom he believed she was romantically involved with. Suspicious and emotionally distressed, he later visited her home. After confronting her, an argument ensued. He alleged that she confirmed the relationship with the other man, prompting a physical altercation during which he claims to have accidentally pushed her, causing her to strike her head on a stone under the bed.

Ngogo insisted that he did not intend to kill Faraja and believed she was still alive when he left.

Justice Pomo, in his ruling, emphasized that while there was no eyewitness testimony about what transpired inside the room, Ngogo’s own admission confirmed he was responsible. The judge noted that the court had to determine whether the killing was intentional or provoked in the heat of the moment.

“The evidence suggests that the incident was triggered by provocative language, leading to the act,” Justice Pomo stated. “There is no doubt that the accused committed the act, but the court believes it was not premeditated.”

Citing Section 195 and 198 of the Penal Code, Justice Pomo convicted Ngogo of manslaughter. He also considered several mitigating factors: Ngogo had no prior criminal record, expressed remorse, had already spent nearly three years in remand since 2022, and was legally a child at the time, lacking full capacity for sound judgment.

“In view of the fact that he was only 17 years old when the offense occurred, I hereby sentence Humphrey Ngogo to 12 months' imprisonment for causing the death of Faraja Shabani,” concluded Justice Pomo.