The High Court in Lilongwe has set July 19 as determination date on whether five suspects linked to the missing of a person living with albinism in Dedza have a case to answer.
The State paraded the ninth witness yesterday to testify against one of the suspects Kumbilani Patson (51) who, alongside others namely Sainani Kalekeni (44), Lukas Kagomo (36), Katiyo Mizeck (42), Wisikesi Gama (58), and the late Buleya Lule (44), who was electrocuted while in police custody, were arrested in connection with the missing of Goodson Makanjira (14) in Dedza.
Senior State Counsel Pirirani Masanjala told High Court Judge Chifundo Kachale that the State paraded the final witness and what was remaining is to make submissions for a determination on whether the five have a case to answer.
The witness, Laurent Robson, gave short responses as Masanjala quizzed him on circumstances that led Patson to visit him at his home in the wee hours of the day Makanjira was abducted at Makanjira Village in Dedza. The boy is yet to be found.
Robson’s responses did not take much time as the session lasted about 40 minutes, after which Kachale adjourned the trial for two weeks.
Said Masanjala in an interview after the adjournment: “We paraded the final witness and the court has adjourned to pave the way for submissions and determination on whether the suspects have a case to answer. Judgement will take place on July 9 in Dedza.”
According to Kachale, judgement will take place at 9am on the said date in the suspect’s home district where the offence was committed.
The suspects were seen being handcuffed and taken to Maula Prison in an ambulance accompanied by at least four warders. They will be kept there for two weeks before being taken to Dedza for judgement.
As they left the court premises, relatives of the missing boy as well as those of the suspects watched silently. They seemed not to understand what was going on as they arrived at the court late.
It took Masanjala’s initiative to update them what had transpired in the courtroom. He told them on the next date of hearing the case as well as the next stage of the prosecution process.
