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Child, 7, Witnesses Grandmother's Stabbing

Newly Arrived Immigrant Accused Of Killing Wife

POSTED: 11:06 am CST January 6, 2009
UPDATED: 10:32 am CST January 13, 2009

Police said a 56-year-old woman was stabbed to death in an east Nashville apartment Monday night in front of a 7-year-old girl.

Video: Woman Stabbed In Front Of Granddaughter

Pascal Gahungu, 63, is accused of stabbing his wife, Yoranda Ntahomvukiye, to death during an argument.

During the incident, the couple's son, Hitimana Noel, jumped on his dad and wrestled him away from his mom. Police said Noel was almost stabbed as he held his father down until officers arrived.

Originally from Burundi, the couple fled the poverty stricken African country in 1972 and headed to Rwanda and eventually to Tanzania. The family arrived in Nashville five months ago, police said.

Ntahomvukiye is the mother of nine children, six who live in the U.S. The 7-year-old who witnessed the stabbing is the victim's granddaughter.

William Mwizerwa works with the African Leadership Ministry and met the family shortly after they moved here.

"It is pitiful to see somebody who got away from poverty, starvation and other problems in Africa (to be) behaving this way," said Mwizerwa.

Gahungu is being held on a $1.25 million bond. This is Nashville's first homicide case of 2009.

Ntahomvukiye will be buried in Nashville. Her family is trying to finalize funeral plans, but are dealing with a language and culture barrier.

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