In 2015, shockwaves spread across the world when Noela Rukundo, an Australian resident originally from Burundi, stunned mourners by walking into her own funeral alive. What seemed like a tragic farewell turned into an unbelievable twist, revealing a chilling story of betrayal and survival.
Noela had traveled from Australia to Burundi for her stepmother’s funeral, expecting a period of mourning and family support.
Instead, she was kidnapped outside her hotel in a terrifying turn of events.
Unbeknownst to her, the abduction was carefully planned. Her husband, Balenga Kalala, had wired thousands of dollars to hitmen to kill her, confident his scheme would succeed. 
But the plan unraveled. The hired men refused to carry out the killing, telling Noela that they did not kill women and children. They disclosed the shocking truth—that her own husband was behind the plot. In an extraordinary twist, they released her after days in captivity, handing her receipts of the money transfers and recorded phone calls proving Kalala’s involvement.
With undeniable evidence in hand, Noela sought help from her pastor and the police. Together, they devised a plan to confront her husband.
On the day of her supposed funeral in Melbourne, Kalala stood before mourners, feigning grief. Suddenly, Noela appeared. Witnesses described the moment as surreal—people screamed in disbelief as Kalala froze in shock at the sight of his wife alive.
Police swiftly arrested him. In court, Kalala admitted orchestrating the murder plot, claiming jealousy and insecurity drove him. He was sentenced to nine years in prison—a punishment many criticized as too lenient given the severity of his crime.
Similar disturbing cases have emerged worldwide. In 2019, a South African woman narrowly escaped after her partner attempted a similar murder-for-hire plot. Authorities stress that such incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger measures to protect victims of intimate partner violence.
