By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
A MAN in Chisamba, who beat up a 79-year-old man to death on suspicion that he had bewitched his cattle, has been sentenced to death.
This is in a case in which Francis Sakala, 26, was arrested for assaulting Davison Banda on February 28, 2013.
Mr Banda, who Sakala had also accused of being responsible for some deaths in the village, died two months later.
Particulars of the offence are that Sakala, of Chipwende Village in Chisamba District, on the fateful day met Mr Banda at a grinding mill where he had gone to collect mealie-meal and beat him up.
During trial, the State called seven witnesses who testified before Kabwe High Court judge-in-charge Mwiinde Siavwapa that Sakala beat up the deceased who he accused of being behind some deaths in the village.
They also said Sakala accused the deceased of bewitching his cattle.
Mr Banda was only rescued by the owner of the grinding mill only identified as a Mr Phiri and Sakala ran away.
He was apprehended by the neighbourhood watch group.
Mr Banda was admitted to Liteta Hospital with a fractured leg and died on April 16, 2013.
The cause of death was said to be sepsic posttraumatic osteomyelitis of the thigh bone.
At the close of the case, Sakala was found with a case to answer and put on his defence.
In his defence, he admitted having quarrelled with Mr Banda but denied kicking him.
He maintained that he just pushed the deceased.
In passing the sentence, Mr Justice Siavwapa said the State had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt and sentenced him to hang by the neck until pronounced dead.