By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
A CHONGWE polygamist has been sentenced to 30 years with hard labour for murder by the Lusaka High Court.
Lusaka High Court Judge Judy Mulongoti slapped the sentence on John Musonda, 39, for the murder of his friend using an iron bar during a fight.
Musonda, who wept after when verdict was passed, murdered Goodson Daka, 60, of B Extension in Kanakatapa in Chongwe on December 29, 2013. The victim sustained broken ribs and died on his way to a local clinic.
In mitigation, Musonda pleaded with the court to free him, saying he was a young man with two wives to take care of.
Musonda said he regretted the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Daka and that he was remorseful of his deeds.
He said that during his stay in prison, he had been subjected to harsh conditions.
Ms Justice Mulongoti said in her sentence that although she had considered Musonda’s mitigation that he was a first offender who deserved lenience, the offence he committed was serious.
Mr Daka’s body was taken to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and a postmortem revealed that he died of fracture of the rib due to blunt injuries of chest and abdomen.
Musonda was arrested and after being interviewed by the police, he admitted causing the death of Mr Daka.
