Ugandan court hands down death sentence for nursery killings

A Ugandan court has handed down a death sentence to Christopher Okello Onyum for the fatal stabbing of four children at a nursery school in Kampala earlier this month. The incident occurred on April 2, when Onyum gained entry to the school by posing as a parent and then carried out the attack within less than seven minutes.

According to court records, an investigation revealed that Onyum had searched for schools near his location and “ISIS beheadings” on his mobile phone and laptop prior to the killings. The judge ruled that this evidence indicated clear preparation for the attack.

Onyum’s defense team claimed he was suffering from insanity at the time of the incident, but the court rejected this argument, stating that the methodical nature of the killings suggested premeditation. The judge also noted that Onyum showed no remorse during the sentencing hearing and did not apologize to the parents of the victims.

A staff member at the nursery school testified about the events leading up to the discovery of the children’s bodies. She stated that she found one child in a pool of blood and that Onyum attempted to attack her when confronted. The witness also reported that Onyum chased her after she threw a bicycle at him, resulting in further injuries.

The death sentence is the first carried out in Uganda in over 20 years.

Source: Al Jazeera