Man killed for failure to pay sex-worker

Police in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, have arrested a sex worker who is suspected to have participated in the killing of her client for allegedly failing to pay for sexual services rendered.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Ramsy Mushani on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of Martha Brighton, 20, who hails from T/A Kadewere in Chiradzulu.

Mushani said Brighton is suspected to have participated in the killing of Ellenia Chileze (24) from Traditional Authority Kabudula in Lilongwe on the night of 3 October over a misunderstanding on payment.

Said Mushani: “They agreed on short time [interaction] with [condom] protection and the sex worker charged K500 [about $1.6]. When they went to a rest house in Area 36, the deceased reportedly told the sex worker not to use [the condom] and he would pay K4 500 [about $15], to which both agreed.

“But after the act, the deceased reportedly failed to pay the sex worker, which prompted her to call people around the rest house who beat him to death.”

Mushani said post-mortem results from Kamuzu Central Hospital show that the deceased died due to blood loss and there was a deep cut on his chest.

Brighton will answer a murder charge.