CHRISTINE CHIHAME, Kitwe
THE Kitwe High Court has imposed the death sentence on a 38-year-old man of Masala township in Ndola for murdering a taxi driver and stealing his vehicle.
High Court judge Isaac Kamwendo last Thursday imposed the death penalty on Hyven Musanshiko of house number 8075 Chinese Complex, Masala, in Ndola after convicting him of murder and aggravated robbery.
Musanshiko on June 9 this year together with other unknown people murdered Jimmy Kangwa and stole his vehicle.
Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Kamwendo convicted Musanshiko after the State managed to prove the case of murder and aggravated robbery against him.
The judge said cases of criminals beating innocent people to death are on the increase and that such offences should not be tolerated.
Mr Justice Kamwendo said the court had a duty to impose deterrent sentences to send a message to would-be offenders.
He granted Musanshiko leave to appeal to the Supreme Court within 14 days.
During trial, Haggai Kayula testified that on the fateful day, he received a phone call from Mr Kangwa who informed him that he would send some money for him to use at the farm.
He testified that the following day, he tried to call Mr Kangwa but his cellphone was off.
Mr Kayula recalled that he again tried to call Mr Kangwa after a week but there was still no response.
The court heard that his relatives informed him that Mr Kangwa had gone missing and they did not know where Musanshiko had taken him after hiring his taxi.
He testified that later, Mr Kangwa’s body was found while Musanshiko had the vehicle.
The matter was reported to the police and Musanshiko was charged and arrested for murder and aggravated robbery.