Swollen lips halt defence in stabbing case

RABECCA BANDA WRITES A LUSAKA man accused of wounding another man with a knife has failed to give his defence due to illness. Appearing at the Lusaka Magistrates Court before Magistrate Martha Miti was Abel Kasalwa accused of stabbing Glorious Mwape on the stomach leaving his intestines hanging out. When the matter come up for defence, Kasalwa said he was unwell because his lips […]

Swollen lips halt defence in stabbing case
RABECCA BANDA WRITES A LUSAKA man accused of wounding another man with a knife has failed to give his defence due to illness. Appearing at the Lusaka Magistrates Court before Magistrate Martha Miti was Abel Kasalwa accused of stabbing Glorious Mwape on the stomach leaving his intestines hanging out. When the matter come up for defence, Kasalwa said he was unwell because his lips were swollen. Magistrate Miti asked Kasalwa how long his lips have been swollen. Kasalwa said his lips have been swollen for three days and he was attended to at the clinic at the prison. Magistrate Miti asked Kasalwa if he had been taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), which he admitted to. Magistrate Miti said she could not proceed with his defence as he is unwell and cannot talk clearly. She said the court will only proceed when the accused seeks medical attention and receivers fully. Kasalwa applied for bail again saying that prison is a bad place and he wants to be coming from home. However, Magistrate Miti said his application for bail was denied the first time because he has no fixed home address. She told Kasalwa that she cannot grant his bail application because it will be difficult for the court to know the exact place he lives. The court denied Kasalwa’s second application for bail and adjourned the matter to June 16 for his defence. The Sun