Maputo court sentences father to 24 years in prison for homicide

The Maputo City Judicial Court sentenced a citizen identified as Armando Bila to 24 years in prison for the aggravated homicide of his own son, a minor under 15 years of age.

The sentence was handed down in the 10th Criminal Section, in connection with a case that occurred in January 2025, in the Polana Caniço neighborhood, on the outskirts of the Mozambican capital.

According to the prosecution's indictment, the defendant allegedly assaulted his son with a wooden stick inside their home, following an argument related to a mobile phone. The assaults were reportedly particularly violent, mainly targeting the head.

As a result of the injuries, the minor suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, which would cause his death at Maputo Central Hospital (HCM), where he was taken in critical condition.

During the trial, the defendant claimed that his son's death resulted from an accidental fall. However, the court found no basis for this version, concluding that the facts demonstrated conscious and intentional action on the part of the defendant.

In reading the sentence, Judge Ivandra Uamusse highlighted as aggravating circumstances the frivolous motive behind the crime, as well as the violation of the duty of protection inherent in the paternal relationship. The court also emphasized the particular reprehensibility of the conduct, considering the victim's vulnerability.