K1,000 fine for death by dangerous driving

THE Chipata High Court has sentenced a man of Katete district to a fine of K1,000 for causing death by dangerous driving. Nelson Zulu appeared before Justice Getrude Chawatama for one Count of causing death by dangerous driving. Particulars of the offence were that Zulu on June 3rd 2019, in Katete, while driving a Toyota Corolla on Great East Road in a manner that was dangerous to the public, caused the death of Nickson Zulu, a cyclist. It is alleged that Nickson who was cycling crossing the road from left to right at Tikondane area was hit by a motor vehicle that was coming at a high speed and died on the sport. A postmortem report from St Francis Mission Hospital indicated that Nickson died as a result of severe head injuries. And in mitigation, Zulu who was represented by Legal Aid Counsel Crippen Siatwiinda asked the court for lenience as he was a first offender who readily admitted the charge without wasting the Court’s time. Counsel Siatwiinda said his client reached out to the bereaved family and assisted in meeting funeral expenses on food, coffin and transport, all amounting to 3, 000 Kwacha. And when passing judgement Justice Chawatama said the court noted that Zulu was a first offender who readily admitted the charge but that cases of causing death by dangerous driving were prevailing in Eastern Province where many lives have been lost unnecessarily. Judge Chawatama said that no sentence seem to deter offenders from committing the offence. She therefore, sentenced Zulu to a fine of 1,000 Kwacha to be paid before 30 August 2020, or serve 3 months simple imprisonment in default. – BREEZEFM The Sun