Chipata Man gets life sentence for killing stepdaughter
By Christopher Miti
The Chipata High Court has sentenced a 20-year-old man to life imprisonment for killing his step daughter.
JOSEPH BANDA of Fisheries area in Chipata District murdered DEBORAH BANDA who was one year three months, in November 2022.
The state called six witnesses to prove its case.
The convict inflicted injuries on the head of the deceased, leading to her death.
Lusaka Judge DORCAS MALAMA, who was sitting in Chipata, said the evidence of the prosecution was collaborative and linked BANDA to the offence.
Judge MALAMA said it is unfortunate that BANDA could kill a child who was harmless and defenceless.
She also noted that BANDA had been repeatedly querying the mother of the deceased to take the girl to her biological father.
In mitigation, BANDA who was represented by BLESSINGS MBEWE from Legal Aid Board pleaded with the court to give him a second chance in life since he was youthful and remorseful.
He said the death of DEBORAH has been haunting him.
The sentence is with effect from November 27, 2022.
