Three nuns raped and killed in African convent
Two stabbed to death and third beheaded; police say motive is unclear
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 09 September, 2014, 3:46am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 09 September, 2014, 3:46am
Agence France-Presse in Bujumbura
Olga Raschietti, Lucia Pulici and Bernadette Boggia. Photos: AFP
Three elderly Italian nuns were raped and murdered in twin attacks at their convent in the capital of Burundi, police said yesterday as a hunt was launched for their killers.
Police initially reported that two nuns were stabbed to death on Sunday afternoon. The killer then battered one of the two with a rock, before fleeing the convent.
Italian authorities named the first two killed as Olga Raschietti, 83, and Lucia Pulici, 75, both Catholic nuns.
But in the early hours of yesterday morning, another nun in the same convent was killed, her body beaten and head hacked off. Colleagues named her as Bernadette Boggia, aged 79.
"After the discovery of the two nuns who were brutally killed... the decapitated body of the third nun was found," Deputy Director General of Police Godefroid Bizimana said.
Pope Francis sent condolences. "The Holy Father begs the Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and devout nuns," the Vatican said.
According to the diocese of Parma in Italy, they were killed during a botched burglary.
But Burundi's police said the motive of the killing was not clear, pointing out that no money was taken.
Police spokesman Colonel Helmegilde Harimenshi said all three were raped.
Father Mario Pulcini, an Italian Catholic priest working in the same parish, said after the first two nuns were killed, Boggia had called him in the middle of the night reporting that she had heard a noise in the convent.
"The body of Sister Bernadette was found lying in a pool of blood, her head decapitated, and her face bore signs of beating.
"The perpetrators had abused her, as they had violated the other two sisters earlier."
Burundian Vice-President Prosper Bazombanza said the government was "appalled by such barbarity", and promised police would do all they could to arrest the killers.
"No one can understand how a third sister was killed late at night... Burundi's government promises to shed light on this matter as quickly as possible," he added.
The suspected killer in the first attack was seen fleeing the convent with a knife, said Damien Baseka, a local government administrator in Bujumbura.
Police sources suggested the third nun was killed by an accomplice who had hidden in the convent.
Harimenshi said that three men were being questioned over the killings.
