No evidence against me—Pika

The High Court in Lilongwe will today continue hearing the cross-examination of Pika Manondo, who is charged with attempted murder of former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe are answering charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder while private practice lawyer Ralph Kasambara is answering the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Manondo, who is his own witness, on being cross-examined by Kumwembe, told the court that the prosecution had not offered any credible evidence on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

He said: “The State has not brought any witness who has ever heard me discussing or agreeing to kill Mr Mphwiyo or any person.”

Manondo also said Mphwiyo’s security guard, in his testimony, did not mention him.

He also came to the defence of his co-accused, Kumwembe telling the court that when Mphwiyo testified he did not mention him as the person who shot him.

“Initially he didn’t identify you as the shooter. Mphwiyo said he recognised you from the newspaper,” Manondo said.

This was the first of several incidences where the three accused persons came to each other’s defence.

Manondo also discredited the Airtel call logs which placed him near Area 43 on 13 September 2013 when Mphwiyo was shot.

Manondo said the call logs mostly captured his number being used near Silver Stadium but a call he made two minutes later captured him at Area 11.