Police officer guns down ex-wife outside Babati bank

MARC NKWAME in manyara

AS dusk was settling on Friday evening, Babati Township in Manyara Region went into a standstill as screams tore the skies following series of gunshots outside NMB Bank premises.

By the time gun smoke settled, a woman identified as Regina Daniel, aged 23, was lying down soaked in her own pool of blood.

It was reported that, a policeman who happened to be on duty, guarding the financial institution located along Usalama Street in Bagara Ward of Babati District, had fired four shots at the lady, killing her instantly.

Police reports indicate that, the Police Constable H.2443 PC Cosmas James from the Field Force Unit (FFU) in Manyara Region, who had been deployed on duty at the NMB Bank that Friday evening, allegedly gunned down his former wife, the late, Regina, a peasant and resident of Ngarenaro, after brief exchange of words.

The incident, which shocked the entire town, occurred at about 18.30 hours on Friday, the 27th of October 2017 in Babati, Manyara. PC James, according to primary police reports, had used the Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), with serial numbers 55052756, which is a police weapon entrusted to him for the day’s duty, to kill Ms Daniel the lady who reportedly used to be his wife before they separated.

The deceased’s body was found with four bullet wounds onto various parts of her anatomy including the forehead, around the neck and onto the chest, according to the Police Murder Case File with serial number; BAB/IR/3296/2017.

Initial police investigations on the matter were conducted by the Officer in Charge (OCD) of Babati District, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maketi Msangi together with the Assistant Inspector of Police Mr Aloyce, the Officer In Charge of Criminal Investigations in the District.

It is being reported that, PC Cosmas James, who was arrested on the spot and is currently being held in police custody in connection with the incidence, used to either have an affair with the deceased or had lived with her at one time.

The two had a child before they parted ways and on that fateful Friday evening apparently, the woman had accosted the suspect, demanding alimony for their child and later bitter arguments ensued before the cop lifted the gun and aimed at the lady’s head.