Kabulonga boy ‘killers’ take stand

By CHARLES MUSONDA THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court yesterday explained the murder charge to a man and three juveniles accused of killing a pupil of Kabulonga Boys Secondary School last December. Before explaining the charge, Lusaka Magistrate Nsunge Chanda established that the first accused person Elvis Nsokolo of plot 51, Sable Road, Kabulonga, is an adult having been born in 2000 while three others are juveniles born in 2002, 2004, and 2003, respectively. Ms. Chanda also established that all the four accused persons completed their grade 12 last year at Twin Palm Secondary School before committing the alleged murder. The three juveniles were represented in court by their respective parents Lydia Sitali, 35, of Malata compound in Kabulonga, Ackim Kanika, 50, an HIV and Adolescent Health coordinator in the Ministry of General Education; and of house number 34 in Kabulonga Boys Secondary School teachers’ compound. The other parent was Albertina Chungu, 36, a trader of Kaunda Square who represented her 17-year-old son, the fourth accused person. Ms. Chanda then read out the charge and asked the accused persons if they understood it and they all answered in the affirmative. She then told them that they are facing a capital offence which is triable by the High Court and not bailable, adding that they will remain in custody while awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to commit them to the High Court. The case was adjourned to February 16, 2021 for possible committal. They are charged with killing 17-year-old Ryan Phiri, who was in grade, 12 using golf sticks on December 4, 2020.