By JULIUS PHIRI –
THE Chipata High Court has sentenced a man of Petauke District to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour, for defiling and impregnating an imbecile.
Before High Court Judge Florence Lengalenga was Michael Phiri who was convicted and jailed for defiling a girl below the age of 16.
Facts of the offence were that Phiri between October 1 and 31, 2015, had carnal knowledge of an imbecile contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Phiri denied the charge but was convicted by the courts because the evidence brought against him was overwhelming.
In mitigation, Phiri through his lawyer John Phiri asked the court to be lenient with him as he was a first offender and that he was sorry for the offence he committed.
When delivering judgement, Ms Justice Lengalenga said she had considered the mitigation but that defiling and impregnating an imbecile, was very unfortunate which calls for stiffer punishment by the courts.
She sentenced Phiri to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from the day of his arrest.
Ms Justice Lengalenga also jailed Mabvuto Tembo who was committed to the high court for sentencing by the Katete magistrate’s court to 35 years imprisonment with labour for incest.
Particulars of the offence were that on an unknown date but between January 1 and August 13, 2015, Tembo had carnal knowledge of his 10 year old daughter.
She also sentenced Frederick Mvula of Katete to 35 years imprisonment for defilement.
Facts of the matter were that on an unknown date but in November 2015 in Katete, Mvula had carnal knowledge of a nine year old girl.