Three Sentenced to Death in Geita for Gruesome Murder

Three Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Brutal Murder in Geita

Geita, Tanzania | April 2, 2025 — The High Court of Tanzania, sitting at the Geita registry, has sentenced three individuals to death by hanging after they were found guilty of murder in a chilling case that drew national attention.

The court reached its verdict in Murder Case No. 29820 of 2024, which began trial proceedings on January 7, 2025. Out of the four accused, three were convicted and handed the maximum penalty under Tanzanian law.

Those sentenced include Thereza Luhedeka (73), the sister of the deceased; her son, Mateso Joseph (23); and Elias Galawa (49), a traditional healer.

The three were convicted of the brutal killing of 51-year-old Joyce Luhedeka, a resident of Ikobe in Mbogwe District. According to court testimony, the heinous act occurred on October 11, 2023, when the victim was attacked in her own home.

Evidence presented revealed that the assailants used a sharp object to inflict fatal injuries on multiple parts of Joyce’s body. In a deeply disturbing detail, the court heard that after the murder, the perpetrators mutilated the victim’s private parts and fled with them. They were later apprehended and found in possession of the severed body parts, which they had attempted to dry and preserve.

The judgment marks a significant step in the administration of justice for one of the most gruesome crimes reported in the Geita region in recent years.