The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced a 27 -year-old Christopher Unyolo to 60 months for Burglary and 12 months for theft.
The Court heard through prosecutor Innocent Dzatopetsa from Kawale Police that during the night of 16-17 September,2024 Christopher Unyolo broke into the house of a female Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Soldier at Kamuzu Baracks Lines with intention to steal.
The Court was told that the female Soldier was awakened by the strange noise, noticed the movement of a human being and she faced him head on, to apprehend him but a fierce battle erupted between the two.
As the two tussled the convict was over powered and in the process he produced a knife to stab the soldier but she was bold enough, she seized the knife from his possession. The fight got the attention of neighbors who intervened and took hold of the convict and brought him before Kawale Police.
Arraigned before court, he pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him.
In his mitigations, he asked the court for leniency citing that he is the first offender and family obligations.
In Submission, Dzatopetsa asked the Court to consider granting Unyolo a stiffer custodial sentence as a deterrent to other-would-be offenders.
Senior Resident Magistrate Shukurani Kumbani concurred with the state’s submission and ordered him to serve a 60 months jail term for Burglary and 12 months for Theft both sentences to run concurrently.
Unyolo hails from Kadam’manja Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba.
Sub-lnspector Precious Mabvuto Phiri.
P.R.O Kawale Police Station
Cell:0995873567/0884024149.
Mbambande