Lusaka lawyer, sister and brother-in-law die in suspected murder-suicide
A prominent Lusaka lawyer and his elder sister have been shot dead in what police believe was a domestic violence incident that ended in a suspected murder-suicide in Makeni Villa.
Lusaka, 9 July -The victims have been identified as 39-year-old lawyer and human rights advocate Innocent Nyambe and his sister, Theresa Nyambe, 43. Police say the suspected shooter, Clifford Chileshe, 45, who was Theresa’s husband, later turned the gun on himself.
According to police, the tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon after Theresa returned to Kanyama Police Station to follow up on an assault complaint she had lodged against her husband two days earlier.
Police said Theresa had reported on Monday at around 23:00 hours that Chileshe had allegedly assaulted her at their Makeni Villa home, leaving her with a cut on her upper lip, swollen eyes, a bleeding nose and general body pains.
A medical report was issued and a case was opened.
On Tuesday at about 14:00 hours, Theresa, accompanied by her younger brother Innocent, returned to the Victim Support Unit at Kanyama Police Station, where officers issued a call-out notice requiring Chileshe to appear before police.
The siblings then travelled to the family home to serve the document.
Police believe the visit ended in tragedy after Chileshe allegedly opened fire on both of them before fatally shooting himself.
Authorities said they received a report of gunshots in Makeni Villa at approximately 15:43 hours from a resident, Chapatuka Mwiche.
When officers arrived, they found Theresa lying lifeless near the main entrance of the house. The house was locked, prompting officers to force entry, where they discovered the bodies of two men inside.
Police said all three had sustained gunshot wounds.
Theresa suffered three gunshot wounds, two to the chest and one to the right arm. Innocent was found on a couch with four gunshot wounds, three to the chest and one to the left leg.
The suspected shooter sustained a gunshot wound to the chin, with the bullet exiting through the top of his head.
Investigators recovered eight spent cartridges from the scene, two outside the house and six inside.
Police also recovered two pistols, a Canik pistol loaded cc nine rounds of ammunition and a Millennium G2 pistol containing five rounds.
Two vehicles found at the property, a Nissan Navara registration number GRZ 160 CZ and a Subaru Impreza registration number ASB 1539, were also secured as part of the investigation.
The bodies of Innocent Nyambe, Theresa Nyambe and Clifford Chileshe were identified by relatives before being taken to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted.
Police say an inquiry file has since been opened as investigations into the incident continue.
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