Mental assessment report for Tasila’s suspected killer not ready, says defence team

By GRACE CHAILE_LESOETSA THE Lusaka High Court yesterday adjourned the matter in which a Zambia Army officer Lieutenant Nigel Mwaba is accused of killing Dr Tasila Tembo, because his mental assessment report was not ready. On February 1, this year, Mwaba pleaded not guilty to one count of murder before High Court Judge Wilfred Muma. The defence lawyers applied that the accused be taken to Chainama Hospital for assessment for a condition or conditions of disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorder. The condition is a disorder that can cause a person to behave angrily or aggressively toward people or property. The application was granted and the matter was adjourned to yesterday. But when the matter came-up yesterday, the defence lawyer from Legal aid Board, Dr O’Brien Kaaba, told the Court that the report was not ready and asked for an adjournment. Mr Justice Muma asked the defence team if they found out from Chainama Hospital how long it would take to have the report ready to avoid deferments of the matter. In response, Dr Kaaba told the Court that the hospital said Mwaba’s condition takes three months assessment but depending on the accused interaction with the doctor, it could be compressed to a fewer months. Mr Justice Muma then adjourned the matter to March 11 for mention and possible commencement of trial. Mwaba is alleged to have shot and dismembered Dr Tembo’s body, which was later discovered by police in a decomposed state and covered with leaves, in Lusaka’s Mikango Barracks area.