CHRISTINE CHIHAME, Kitwe
A 38-YEAR-OLD man of Kalulushi has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Kitwe High Court for causing the death of his girlfriend.
High Court judge Chilombo Phiri on Friday jailed Elias Kafunda of house number 44, Luanzila in Kalulushi, after he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.
Kafunda was initially charged with murder.
Kafunda on May 1 this year in Kitwe, caused the death of Irene Mulenga.
Delivering judgment, Mrs Justice Phiri said she was satisfied with the facts before her and convicted Kafunda on his own plea of guilty.
She granted Kafunda leave to appeal to the Supreme Court within 14 days.
Facts before the court are that on the fateful night around 21:30 hours, Kafunda went to Ms Mulenga and they together went to drink beer at a bar before retiring to bed.
The court heard that while in Ms Mulenga’s bedroom, a man identified as Charles Mambwe entered without knocking and this angered Kafunda because he had heard rumours that Mr Mambwe was having an affair with Ms Mulenga.
The court heard that a fight ensued between Mr Mambwe and Kafunda.
The court heard that Kafunda beat up Mr Mambwe and later turned on Ms Mulenga whom he strangled to death.
The court heard that the matter was reported to the police and Kafunda was charged and arrested for murder.