Protective brother denies stabbing charge

RABECCA BANDA writes A LUSAKA man has denied stabbing a man with a knife and wounding him. Before Magistrate Martha Miti was Abel Kasalwa accused of unlawfully wounding Norious Mwape on 15 February. In defence, Kasalwa said he found his sister being beaten by Mwapeand when he reached closer to where the couple were, Mwape started running and he gave chase. He said his intentions was to take Mwape to the police and find out why he was beating his sister. He said a mob joined in the chase because they thought Mwape was a thief and after they caught up with Mwape at a certain house they begun to beat him. Kasalwa told the mob that Mwape was not a thief and that they should stop beating him. He said he and others grabbed Mwape and took him to the police station. Kasalwa said two week later, he was surprised to see Mwape with a big wound on his stomach. He said Mwape told him‘you wanted to kill me, I have died,’ he said. He said Mwape told him that he was operated on because of another wound that he had before. Magistrate: Why did Mwape say you stabbed him? Kasalwa: It was what he said when we arrived at the police station and I wasn’t holding any weapon in my hands. State prosecutor: Did you meet with Mwape and where? Kasalwa: Yes, along the railway line between Kamwala South and Kuku compound. State prosecutor: Did you chase Mwape and why? Kasalwa: Yes I chased after him because I wanted to know why he was beating my sister. State prosecutor: A witness Peter Phiri said you stabbed Mwape, was he lying? Kasalwa: I didn’t stab him. State prosecutor: Who caused the mob between you and your sister? Kasalwa: Me. State prosecutor: According to you, was Mwape stabbed with a knife? Kasalwa: No. State prosecutor: Did you see the wound he had on the stomach? Kasalwa: Yes. In testimony, Kasalwa’s 13-year-old-sister said she was with her boyfriend when Mwape came and asked her why she was with that man. She said Mwape then told her that he loves her and wanted to date her but she refused. She said she told Mwape that she can’t date him because he has girlfriend who he has a child with. Mwape then started beating her and when he saw Kasalwa coming, he started running away. She said Kasalwa chased Mwape until he caught him and he booked a taxi, put Mwape inside and together they took him to the police station. She said at the police station, Mwape took off his shirt and told the officers that Kasalwa stabbed him with a knife. She said Mwape has wound but she didn’t not see a knife neither did she see Kasalwa stab him. The matter comes up on 22 June for Judgement. The Sun