Spax’s murder case takes new twist

By SANFROSSA MANYINDATHE murder trial involving Kabaso Mulenga, popularly known as Spax, yesterday took a new twist when the court ordered for the investigation of torture allegations against one of the suspects.The defense objected to continued trial arguing that their client Jimmy Bwembya had been tortured in police cells.As a result, the court ordered that trial within a trial would commence to establish whether the suspect was truly tortured by the police or not.In this matter, Spax 29, Boyd Kamizhi 24, Maclean Kamizhi 22, Gilbert Zimba 22, Syvio Kwibisa 22, and Jimmy Bwembya 23, are appearing before Kitwe High Court Judge, Abha Patel, for three counts of attempted murder, rape and murder.Between January 22 and 23, last year the accused jointly murdered Emmanuel Maponda of Chingola district.On the same date, the six attempted to murder Billy Maponda in Chingola while in the third count they again attempted to murder Sheila Bwembya.In count four, they attempted to murder Stanley Maponda also of Chingola and in the last charge they allegedly raped a woman.When the matter came for continued trial yesterday, the defence lawyers said the trail could not continue on grounds that the suspect was tortured.Trial continues.