ZAMBIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER

October 27, 2009: in Zambia, Lusaka High Court judge Christine Phiri sentenced Joe Songiso to death by hanging for murdering Clare Nakwambwa Wamulume on February 7, 2009 at Imwambo in Mongu district.
Judge Phiri noted that the accused was seen armed with a knife which he used to stab Wamulume and her mother Magaret Linyama.
“I find that the accused stabbed the deceased. It is therefore my view that the accused had formed the intention before taking the drugs called dagga and it is my finding further that he smoked merely as a catalyst to gather sufficient courage to carry out his act with full knowledge of the consequences of his act and that by using a knife, he intended to cause grievous bodily harm to the wife and mother in law and consequently, the wife died from the wounds inflicted on her by the accused,” Phiri said.
She explained that there was only one penalty for that offence which she said was mandatory thereby sentencing the accused to death by hanging till pronounced dead.
Songiso pleaded not guilty to the charge. (Sources: Postzambia.com, 27/10/2009)