MUBANGA NONDO, Ndola
A MINIBUS driver of Kamuchanga township in Mufulira has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Ndola High Court for causing the death of a 66-year-old man.
Ndola High Court judge Mubanga Kondolo last Thursday jailed Remmy Kankombwe, 37, of house number T237 after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Kankombwe on July 3 this year in Mufulira, caused the death of Thomas Mwila.
Passing the sentence, Mr Justice Kondolo said it was inhuman for Kankombwe to beat an old man to death just because he greeted him while he was drinking beer at a tavern.
Mr Justice Kondolo said it is the duty of the court to protect society from people who brutalise weaker citizens.
“I note that there were no weapons used in the beating. However, your reaction of beating an old man to death was unreasonable and irrational. Although there were no weapons, other than fists and kicks, the beating was so severe.
“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated. It is the duty of the court to protect weaker members of society from people like you who mete out such brutality on them,” Mr Justice Kondolo said.
He, however, said he had considered Kankombwe’s mitigation but that there was no provocation from Mr Mwila.
“He was beaten to death just because he greeted you as you were drinking beer. I, therefore, sentence you to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from the date you were arrested,” Mr Justice Kondolo said.
In mitigation, defence counsel Jonas Zimba asked the court to be lenient on Kankombwe because he is remorseful for his actions.
Facts before court were that on the fateful day around 16:00 hours, Mr Mwila and his wife were on their way home from visiting a relative when they passed near a tavern in the second class area where the Kankombwe was drinking beer.
Mr Mwila greeted Kankombwe but this angered him.
The court heard that Kankombwe kicked and punched Mr Mwila until he became unconscious.
Mr Mwila was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kamuchanga Hospital.