Burundi Albino Trial Update

The BBC reported this week that the charge of murder has been dropped against the 11 people on trial in Burundi in connection with the deaths of a dozen albino Africans.

The prosecution have failed to produce enough evidence to support a murder charge, the 11 men will still stand trial though for the attempted murder of albinos and trafficking of body parts. A further allegation of grave robbing has also been added to the charges.

If convicted three of the men on trial could face life in prison, five others are looking at 15 to 20 years for aiding and abetting. The remaining three will receive lesser sentences for more minor crimes in connection with the killings.

The prosecution have also called for the names of the men to be made public in order to name and shame them.

A dozen albino Africans have been murdered in Burundi in the past few months, police believe their body parts are then taken across the border to Tanzania where there has been a surge in demand for albino body parts which are used to make good luck charms and spells by witch doctors.

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