DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjebm.2026.v13i06.004

Pages: 269-275

Medical expert requisition constitutes a cornerstone of evidence collection in criminal proceedings involving interpersonal violence. In Burundi, despite the legal obligation mandated by the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Law on Gender-Based Violence (Law No. 1/13 of September 22, 2016), the practical implementation of expert requisition remains fraught with procedural, technical, and institutional challenges. Objective: This study empirically examines the problematic dimensions of medical expert requisition in interpersonal violence cases at the Mukaza Public Prosecutor's Office in Bujumbura, Burundi, with a view to documenting challenges and formulating evidence-based recommendations. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed combining quantitative data from 186 judicial case files and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 60 magistrates, judicial police officers, and medical experts. Yamane's formula (1967) was applied to determine the sample from a population of 207 stakeholders. Results: Findings reveal significant deficiencies including improper formulation of expert requisitions (67.2%), absence of forensic psychology expertise (100%), inadequate expert honoraria regulation (82.8%), shortage of forensic medicine specialists (74.7%), and delayed expertise production (78.5%). Discussion: These results are consistent with comparative studies from Sub-Saharan African jurisdictions and international literature documenting systemic weaknesses in medico-legal systems in developing legal contexts. Conclusion: Urgent structural reforms are required including standardization of requisition forms, continuous training programs for judicial and medical actors.