By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Mongu high court has found Shebby Chilekwa guilty of murder.
His sentence his adjourned to today 6th April, 2023 after his lawyers asked for leniency in their mitigation.
Particulars of the offence are that Shebby Chilekwa on October 6, 2019 in Kaoma District whilst and jointly acting together with others murdered Lawrence Banda.
This happened during the Council Chairperson By-elections in Kaoma district.
Judge Charles Zulu in his verdict said that the fact that the murder weapon was not presented as evidence does not take away the consistency of the three out of the five witnesses that where presented.
Justice Zulu added that Chilekwa failed to prove himself innocent of the charge on many occasions and the fact he that he was hiding from the police when his arrest was issued places him against the law.
And in their mitigation, the defense asked the court to consider the circumstances surrounding the offense such as political violence during elections and that Mr Chilekwa is a first offender.
The court is set to pass judgment in the case of Shebby Chilekwa where he is accused of murdering Lawrence Banda.
Yesterday Mongu High Court Judge Charles Zulu entered the Nolle Prosequi after Director Public Prosecution senior advocate Kayoka Sifali applied for it in the case of the people vs Mumbi Phiri
