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Man Jailed For Killing A Policeman
A-43-year-old business executive who hit and killed a police officer manning a check-point in Chisamba before missing another by a whisker at Kabangwe roadblock has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
In her ruling Kabwe High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa said the state had proved the case and convicted Michael Mwansa with one count of causing death by dangerous driving with the hope that he would reflect on his conduct while in prison.
The Kitwe-based business executive who was clad in a navy blue suit looked shocked when sentence was passed by Justice Mwikisa who pointed out that she had no choice but to send him to prison as a warning to other irresponsible drivers who have no regard for the law.
She said it was sad that after running over the officer he did not offer help but instead sped off and also caused another scare at Kabangwe check point, forcing the officer to run for his life after seeing that he was not stopping.
She said the conduct was a sign that Mwansa had no regard for law and other road users.
The court said as a prudent driver the convict was supposed to stop after seeing a check point and that the accident was avoidable considering that the check point was permanent.
Earlier through his lawyer, the convict pleaded for leniency saying he was a family person and employs over 200 people through his companies and asked for a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
Particulars of the offence are that Mwansa on July 4, 2011 caused the death of Collins Sipantunyana while driving a Toyota Hilux, registration number ABT 1119.
During trial the state called eight witnesses among them a police officer, Hastings Chileshe who testified during examination-in chief by Senior State Advocate Chali Hambayi that on the fateful day he was on duty when he was alerted by officers from Chisamba asking him to look out for a runaway driver who hit and killed a police officer.
Chileshe narrated that 40 minutes after the phone call, he saw a speeding vehicle approaching the check-point he was manning and signaled for the motorist to stop but saw that the driver was not stopping forcing him to flee from the road.
He said the motorist switched to the wrong lane and sped off.
He saw that the vehicle had a dent adding that efforts to give chase using a private vehicle proved futile.
Another witness, Mark Krunic, a stores manager at Zambeef farm, said he saw a speeding vehicle hit a police officer manning the Chisamba checkpoint and then speed off.
At the closure of the case Mwansa was found with a case to answer and put on his defence but he denied killing the officer and claimed that he was not in Chisamba at the time but admitted having been involved in two accidents which he did not report to the police.
Posted by
Victim of Zambian Police Brutality
April 1, 2014 at 11:08 am
More policemen should be dealt with!!!
Kwasha
April 1, 2014 at 11:31 am
****** BEHAVIOUR, EVEN 9 MONTHS IS SHORT A TERM. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 36 MONTHS
test@e
April 1, 2014 at 1:42 pm
i thought murder is for murder
Loose Canon
April 1, 2014 at 2:15 pm
I think it was easier for him to hit and run than get caught with what he could have been carrying.
diamond platinum
April 1, 2014 at 2:59 pm
You are complaining about 9 months,murder.nishi elefwaya life in jail? Uletasha
FK
April 1, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Loose Canon I agree wth you dats a point wic probably was over looked.u can make a good judge.besides 9months for murder is not enough punishment esp wth da way the convict behavioured.its true the law in zambia is for the poor
jamakudi
April 1, 2014 at 3:58 pm
Nine months only? for murder? this is a godly sentence.
chitimukulu
April 1, 2014 at 10:31 pm
nine months only for hit and run, is the judge really serious????
Kolwe
April 2, 2014 at 11:17 am
Goverment must with immediate effect appeal the sentence and should probe Judge Elita Mwikwisa for corruption and incomtence,assult someone goes for 5years now murder gets 9months No No No a Business Executive to me he is a learned person who understands the law very wel.please state appeal for the sake of the poor if you won’t i wil do same and except a the judgement you are not helping the public
Kanayo
April 2, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Spot on. The state should appeal. The man should go for 5 or more. After all you killed the “boma”