By Innocent Mvundula
The Blantyre Magistrate’s Court on Friday, October 16, 2020 convicted and ordered a Lorry driver, White Liwonde, to pay K300,000 fine for causing death due to reckless driving.
The court heard through prosecutor Sergeant Lilian Kongola that on September 28, 2020, the driver of Toyota Dyna, 3 Tonner Lorry hit a male pedestrian who was crossing the road from left to right at Miami ADMARC along Chikwawa-Blantyre road.
The pedestrian, Felix Banda, 48, from Chikaonda Village, Traditional Authority Nsomba in Blantyre district (now deceased) sustained multiple head injuries, dislocated right hip and bruises in the right arm. He died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital on October 11, 2020 while receiving treatment.
In the court, the accused pleaded guilty for the offence, a development that led to his conviction.
In her submission, Sergeant Kongola asked the court to give the convict a stiffer punishment, saying accidents caused by reckless driving are rampant on the Malawi roads and she said that the accused was so driving in a built up area and a trading centre that he was supposed to drive carefully and attentively.
She further said that the stiffer punishment would deter would-be offenders.
In mitigation, the convict said that he has a family to look after and asked for a lenient sentence.
Passing the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Ibrahim Hussein concurred with the state and ordered him to pay K300,000 fine or in default to serve a custodial sentence of one year. He has since paid the fine.
White Liwonde, 40, hails from Namonde Village, Traditional Authority Nsomba in Blantyre district.
Sub Inspector Beatrice Mikuwa,
Deputy PRO, South West Police Headquarters.
Cell: 0888 865 217