The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s (SRM) Court has on October 11, 2024 convicted and sentenced a 31-year-old man, Gift Kathabwa for abducting a fourteen year-old child, Brian Madimba with intention to kill him which contravenes sections 259 and 261 of Penal Code.
The Court heard through Kawale Police Station Prosecution Officer (SPO), Inspector Fancy Sichali that on September 10, 2024 Gift Kathabwa found Brian and his four friends basking themselves in the sun, along Lilongwe River after swimming within Area 17. He then coaxed two boys to help him retrieve fishing net, promising to give them fish in return.
Further, the Court was informed that after walking a distance away from other boys, he instructed the other boy to stay behind and wait for his friend while he proceeded with Brian Madimba (the deceased).
They went into a secluded place where the convict strangled the boy and threw him into Lilongwe River, with plans to extract his private parts later at night. However, while visiting the place during dark hours, the plan got foiled as the dead body could not be located. He later, during the day, went to recheck, but this time he found himself in the hands of villagers who were searching for the missing Child after being spotted by the other boys who were together before the heartbreaking incident.Leading to his arrest.
Upon questioning he confessed to have abducted the boy with intention to kill and remove his genitals for business. He further revealed his accomplice and led police to the exact place where they dumped the innocent child where his lifeless body was seen floating.
Sichali further told the jam parked court that before killing Brian Madimba, the boy made all possible efforts to escape the death trap, he reached a point of hitting Kathabwa with a stone on his forehead which left a mark on the convict but the helpless boy was over powered by the two heartless suspects.
Arraigned before court, he pleaded guilty to abduction charge while his accomplice denied the charge and is yet to prove his innocence. Kathabwa further asked the court’s leniency in his mitigations citing that he was influenced by his colleague and he is the first offender.
In submission, Sichali asked the Court to consider granting him a stiffer custodial sentence citing that what he did is a taboo, a demonstration of animalsity behavior, abducting and later killing an innocent boy like a goat or chicken is a sign of him as the worst offender unacceptable in our society hence the need of stiff punishment as a deterrent to other-would-be offenders.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Shukurani Kumbani concurred with the state’s submission and odered him to serve a 21 year jail term for child abduction while he awaits full murder trial in the high court.
Kathabwa hails from Chiwamba Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe.
Sub-lnspector Precious Mabvuto Phiri.
P.R.O Kawale Police Station
Cell:0995873567/088424149.