BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Mbyayenge Mafuta, a Vermont man convicted of killing his prison cellmate, Jeffrey Hall, in 2023, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday. He was given credit for the time he has already served.
In November 2023, Mafuta pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges after the fatal attack on Hall, 55. Prosecutors highlighted that Mafuta has taken responsibility for his actions, and in a statement to the court, Mafuta apologized for the killing, expressing a desire to turn his life around.
“I will prepare myself to become an independent man, to live on my own, to live a structured life, to have the mental stability to live and be around the community and not have to fall back into my past patterns,” Mafuta said.
As part of his plea agreement, Mafuta will face strict probation conditions after his release. If he violates these conditions, he could be sentenced to serve the underlying 30-year sentence.
