‘Kabulonga school boy was flogged with golf sticks’

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA A GARDENER has told the Lusaka High Court that 17-year-old Ryan Phiri was beaten by five Twin Palm Secondary School pupils using golf sticks. Mr Isaac Lungu, 21, who works as a gardener at Kabulonga Boys Secondary school teachers’ compound, said he rescued Ryan after he heard him begging the assailants to …

‘Kabulonga school boy was  flogged with golf sticks’
By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA A GARDENER has told the Lusaka High Court that 17-year-old Ryan Phiri was beaten by five Twin Palm Secondary School pupils using golf sticks. Mr Isaac Lungu, 21, who works as a gardener at Kabulonga Boys Secondary school teachers’ compound, said he rescued Ryan after he heard him begging the assailants to stop beating him. He, however, identified one of the accused juvenile whom he knew that he was not among the five that beat Ryan. In this matter, Elvis Nsokolo is charged with three juveniles of killing a Kabulonga Boys Secondary School pupil Ryan Phiri using golf sticks last December 4. When the matter came up for continued trial, Mr Lungu narrated that on the fateful day while he was cutting flowers, he saw a Kabulonga Boys pupil running towards his direction. “After two to five minutes, I heard someone shout ‘muzanipaya guys’ (guys you will kill me). I went there and found five Twin Palm pupils beating the boy. Three had golf sticks. I managed to rescue him and hid him behind an unfinished wall fence since they had indicated they will come back for him,” he said.  Trial continues. He said he continued cutting the flowers while Ryan was still behind the same place but minutes later the Twin Palm boys returned and this time they were about 11 or 12 in number. Mr Lungu said they asked him where Ryan was, he responded that he had run away pointing in a different direction. After they had left, the witness said he went to check on Ryan who was failing to sit properly and had difficulties in breathing. “I took a bucket of water to wash off the mud on his face and also he was bleeding from the side of the head near the ear. He even said ‘my friend I will die’ and then closed his eyes,” he said. Mr Lungu said he rushed out and called a taxi driver and first took him to a police station but they were advised to take Ryan straight to the University Teaching Hospital because he was in a bad state. He said on the way, they called Ryan’s father while the victim was sleeping on his laps. Mr Lungu said Ryan was taken to UTH and was taken inside the wards by medical personnel. He learnt of Ryan’s death the next day. He said he could not identify the five or the 12 that returned. In cross examination, Mr Lungu was asked if he would know the boy who was running towards him was Ryan, he answered no. Judge Sharon Newa adjourned the matter to tomorrow for continued trial.