Uganda: Death Sentence for Man Who Killed Four Children at Kindergarten
Al Jazeera Staff
A Ugandan court has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death for stabbing four children aged one to three at a kindergarten in Kampala. The judge rejected his insanity plea, citing precise planning shown by his online searches for “schools near me” and “ISIS beheading.” Onyum showed no remorse and did not apologize to the parents.
A Ugandan court sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death for stabbing four children at a kindergarten in the capital Kampala. The attack took place early April.
On April 2, Onyum disguised himself as a parent to enter the school, then locked the gate and carried out the assault in less than seven minutes. Police said an angry crowd of parents tried to attack him before a security guard subdued him.
The court rejected Onyum's defense that he was insane at the time of the crime. The judge noted the “precise and meticulous manner” of the killings showed intent, and said the children were slaughtered “like animals.”
According to testimony, Onyum had searched for “schools near me” and “ISIS beheading” on his mobile phone and laptop before the attack. The judge said this indicated clear preparation.
Onyum did not apologize to the parents. The judge remarked that he showed no remorse.
A school employee recounted finding a child in a pool of blood and, when confronted, Onyum tried to attack her. “He stood up, holding a knife. He was so fast he immediately grabbed another child. I picked up a child's bicycle and threw it at him... He dropped the child and chased me,” she said.
The death penalty is legal in Uganda but rarely carried out. The last execution was more than 20 years ago.
