Mchinji court gives wife beater 13.5 years IHL

The Mchinji Magistrate’s Court has sentenced John Yasini to 13 years and six months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for physically assaulting his 18-year-old wife Linda Phulani who sustained serious injuries in the assault after Yasini alleged she was cheating on him.

Police prosecutor Humphrey Makhalira told the court on Tuesday that in April this year, Yasini beat his wife with chains and rods after the wife went to visit her friend against her husband’s order at Kumbuyo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlonyeni in Mchinji District.
Said the prosecutor: “Linda sustained serious injuries in her buttocks as a result of the beating, but Yasini locked her in his house for five days without seeking medical attention.”
He said Yasini later took Linda to a herbalist, Malunga Kalumikiza, who alerted the police after seeing the degree of the wounds.
Earlier, pictures of Linda’s wounds were tendered in the court as evidence and a medical report from Mchinji District Hospital where Linda spent three months recuperating was also shown to the court.
Yasini pleaded guilty to the charge of grievous harm and asked for leniency from the court, saying he loves his wife and that he would take care of her if acquitted.
Passing the sentence, Mchinji first grade magistrate Rodwell Phiri, who looked angry, said Yasini acted like a lion when beating his wife causing deep wounds.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency (Mana) earlier, Linda said her wounds had healed, but she has problems walking properly. She said she wished Yasini was given a life sentence.
Linda, a Standard Seven dropout, said she will return to school in September this year. 