I KILLED HIM

A 46-year-old man in Chipata has admitted killing his workmate using a machete. Adamson Nkhoma hacked Seviliano Phiri, 33 using a machete at a farm in Chipata in a rage sparked by personal differences. The case came before Lusaka High Court Judge Winnie Mwenda, who was sitting in Chipata.  Facts are that on 23 July, last year Nkhoma struck his fellow worker dead at Richard Jere’s farm with a machete after he insulted him in presence of his two wives and children.  The court heard that on the material day, Phiri, now deceased, had gone to Nkhoma’s house where he started hauling insults on him.  It was in the process, Nkhoma ot agitated at the insults on him and hacked Phiri with a machete twice in the head, leading to his death. The court further heard that the post-mortem which was conducted at Chipata Central Hospital revealed that Phiri died as result of head injuries caused by a sharp object. Nkhoma readily admitted having killed his workmate and in his mitigation pleaded for lenience with court when rendering the sentence.  He told the court that he was a first offender and readily pleaded guilty to the offence without wasting court’s time.  Nkhoma said he had used the time he has spent in remand to reflect on his temperament which led to the death of his friend. He said if the court imposed a stiffer punishment on him his two wives and six children would suffer as he was the breadwinner. Upon hearing the accused’s mitigation, Justice Mwenda recorded a plea of guilty to manslaughter and adjourned the matter to June 5, 2020 for sentencing.  In a related case, a 38-year-old man Petauke district also pleaded guilty to manslaughter. This involved Mabvuto Mwanza who appeared for murder an offence the state reduced to manslaughter. Mwanza pleaded for lenience from the court in mitigation. He had killed his friend Limbani Zulu after a misunderstanding arose during a drinking spree.  Mwanza grabbed a machete from Zulu during the time of the misunderstanding and hit him with it. A few hours later, Mr Phiri’s body was found in a nearby bush with head injuries. The court heard that post-mortem results showed that Phiri died due to head injuries caused by a sharp object. Dr Justice Mwenda adjourned the matter for sentencing. ZANIS The Sun