AN angry mob pounced on  a 19-year-old man suspected to have defiled and strangled to death his three-year-old niece in Choma district. This happened when the suspect was caught trying to dump the girl, whom he had kept in a laptop bag. Kent Chulu of Mwapona Township was beaten by members of the public and was only rescued by police officers. Speaking in an interview yesterday, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Diamond Likashi confirmed the incident, which happened around 18:00 hours on Saturday. The matter was reported by Simacheche ward councillor Donald Simaato.

“Acting on the matter, police visited the scene and found the body of the deceased lying in agony in the bush, a few metres away from Choma Independence Stadium,” Mr Likashi said. He said a small black bag was found on the ground next to the body. Mr Likashi said the bag is identified to be Chulu’s property and it is believed to have been used by the suspect to carry the body with a view to dumping it. He said after the body was inspected, blood was seen coming out from the private parts of the girl, implying that she was defiled before being murdered. Mr Likashi said the body is in Choma General Hospital awaiting post-mortem and the bag has been kept as part of evidence. Meanwhile, an 87-year-old man identified as Amos Siankopelo of Maamba in Sinazongwe district has committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree using a telephone cable. Mr Likashi said the incident happened between Saturday around 19:00 hours and yesterday around 06:00 hours in Namafulu village. “The deceased was found hanging and no physical injuries were found on his body. The motive of the suicide is not known as he was staying alone,” he said.