CHIPATA MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDERING HIS GIRLFRIEND
The Chipata High Court has sentenced accountant Edward Mwanamuchele to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for murdering his girlfriend, Rhoda Munkombwe, during a sleepover at his residence.
Delivering the sentence, High Court Judge Justice Kafunda said Mwanamuchele had raised the defences of provocation and intoxication, but neither amounted to a complete defence.
The judge, however, found that the circumstances surrounding the two defences were sufficient to constitute extenuating circumstances.
Justice Kafunda noted that Mwanamuchele and the deceased had consumed a large quantity of alcohol on the day of the incident and that allegations of infidelity had also arisen.
He said the court had taken those circumstances into account under Section 201(3) of Zambia’s Penal Code before sentencing Mwanamuchele to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.