Joseph Isangura
The body of a man buried in Dungi, Kibosho Kindi village, Kilimanjaro, was exhumed today for DNA testing following a dispute between two families claiming the deceased as their own.
The body, believed to be that of Richard Shoo, 31, was buried on June 25, 2024, after his passing on June 16. However, the family of Jackson Joseph, 29, insists the body belongs to their son, sparking a legal and emotional battle.
Tensions flared when police arrived at the burial site with a court order to exhume the body for DNA testing to confirm its identity. Officers, led by the head of Moshi district investigations, were accompanied by two doctors and Joseph’s family, including his mother. However, the Shoo family resisted the exhumation, questioning the validity of the police documentation and demanding to see the original court order.
Despite the court ruling permitting the exhumation, the Shoo family expressed dissatisfaction, leading to a heated confrontation. The process had been delayed once when police initially arrived without a physical copy of the court order, which led to suspicions and resistance. The exhumation was rescheduled for today, following legal proceedings where both families were present.
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The event attracted onlookers, and local tensions ran high as some villagers voiced their discomfort with the situation. “We are not satisfied with what is happening. There has been no clear explanation,” said a relative from the Shoo family.
The legal battle began after the Jackson family contested the identity of the body buried in the Shoo family’s plot, asserting that it was, in fact, their son. The two families have been entangled in a dispute since Jackson’s disappearance, with conflicting claims about the body’s true identity.
The exhumation proceeded at 9:20 AM today, under the supervision of law enforcement and medical personnel. Both families await the results of the DNA analysis, which is expected to bring clarity to the tragic situation. The results will determine the next legal steps, including whether the body will be reburied with the appropriate family.
