3 to hang for aggravated robbery

THE Chipata High Court has sentenced three men of Katetedistrict to death by hanging for murdering a person after a staged robbery. Postani Banda 36, Ackim Phiri 46 all of Katete’s Ibex area and Daniel Ngoma of Chipata’s Mchini Compound appeared before Justice Gertrude Chawatama for judgement in a matter where they were jointly charged with two counts of murder and aggravated robbery. Particulars of the offence were that in Count One, the trio on May 24 2019 in Katete jointly and whilst acting together murdered Patrick Zulu and robbed him of his itel phone, a Patriotic Front PF branded bicycle and a pair of black shoes. In Count Two, the three on the same date jointly and whilst acting together with another person unknown robbed Chiomba Phiri of a black itel phone and a yellow and white bicycle all valued at 2,150 Kwacha. The body of Patrick was found lying the following day at the crime scene at Mozambique road junction and it is alleged that the police instituted investigations into the matter which led to the apprehension of the three convicts. In mitigation Legal Aid Board Counsel Crippen Siatwiinda who represented the three convicts said that the trio were first offenders who deeply reflected on their actions and that they are ready to be law abiding citizens if given another chance. But when passing judgement Justice Chawatama said that the court noted what was said in mitigation but that the matters the offence was serious especially that a life was lost. Judge Chawatama therefore, sentenced the three to death by hanging in the first count of murder while in count two of aggravated robbery, they were slapped with a 25-year jail sentence effective from the date of arrest. – BREEZFM. The Sun