Kenyan Man in Toronto Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fatally Poisoning a Toddler

Toronto resident Francis Ngugi has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 17 years.

At the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, the 47-year-old Ngugi was convicted of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for deliberately putting poison in 3-year-old Bernice Natanda Wamala’s cereal while she was sleeping over at a friend’s house in 2021. The three-year-old victim lost her life on March 7, 2021, after ingesting sodium nitrite. The actions were an attempt to cause harm to the friend of the child’s mother, Zahra Issa. On Thursday, Ngugi pleaded guilty to the allegations against him and admitted his unhealthy obsession towards Zahra Issa.

The sentencing was delivered by Justice Maureen Forestell at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Thursday. Ngugi, who qualifies for parole in 2040, was informed by Forestell that parole approval does not immediately translate into his release given it would be at the discretion of the parole board. Authorities have impeded Ngugi from owning any weapons and have been instructed to end any connections or communications- direct or indirect- with Zahra Issa and her immediate family members. Additionally, he is not allowed to communicate with Bernice’s mother Maurine Mirembe unless he obtains explicit consent. Furthermore, communication with any member of Mirembe’s family is strictly prohibited.

Exploring Ngugi’s eligibility for parole, Forestell analyzed several factors that could reduce his sentence. This included his status as a first-time offender and his willingness to attend rehabilitative programs. Acknowledging Ngugi’s Kenyan origin, Forestell noted that his conviction may result in deportation and that as a bisexual individual, this could lead to him facing prosecution upon returning to his home nation. Thursday’s court proceedings also saw Bernice’s mother Mirembe issue an impact statement.

On March 7, 2021, Mirembe went to pick up her daughter from a friend’s home after a night out. To her dismay, she discovered that the little girl was displaying symptoms of illness. Worryingly, Bernice appeared to be pointing frantically at her stomach and her tongue was visibly grey. According to Mirembe’s statement, Bernice’s friend was also unwell. As Mirembe shared her account of events, Ngugi kept his eyes downcast and remained silent. According to the provided information, Ngugi developed an intense and possessive fixation on Issa, leading him to plot a plan to harm her.