Hubby jailed for clobbering rival
Written by Millennium on April 23, 2019
CHARLES MUSONDA writes
A LUSAKA man has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for inflicting severe injuries on the man he found coming out of his house around 22:00 hours.
Before Lusaka Magistrate Nsunge Chanda was Rodwell Luneta, of Kanyama compound, who told the court tin his defence that on May 1, 2018, he found Kenan Sakala coming out of his two roomed house in which he lived with his wife Ateresi Miti and their three children.
Luneta said he pushed Sakala who fell down and when he shouted “thief”, a mob came and descended on Sakala.
His wife, who he called as his defence witness, told the court that around 22: 00 hours on the material date, she was in the bedroom with Sakala and when Luneta came, her boyfriend attempted to leave the house and a fight ensued.
Ateresi further admitted that besides being married to Luneta for eight years, Sakala was her boyfriend.
The court heard that after Luneta and others pummelled Sakala, they undressed and left him naked in a pool of blood. The victim had a deep cut on and other injuries on his head, lost one tooth, and three others were shaking.
In her judgment on Thursday, Ms. Chanda said the pain that was inflicted on Sakala was too much and it was clear that it could only be caused by a mob, which included Luneta.
She said the issue of the accused person finding Sakala coming out of his house could not be defence in the assault case.
She said Luneta fuelled Sakala’s beating and he participated in the act; after which she found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.
“You committed a serious offence and some people have died as a result of such acts. If you find your wife with another man then she does not reason and just know that she doesn’t want you.
“It is better you divorce her and you can’t start beating someone in the manner you did. It is just fortunate that he did not die, especially in these compounds where you live when you call for a mob. You don’t deserve mercy and I sentence you to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from today,” Ms. Chanda said.
