Son killer accused in court

By CHARLES MUSONDA A 27-YEAR-OLD school caretaker, who has admitted killing his two-year-old son, appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ court yesterday for mention.

Before senior resident magistrate David Simusamba was George Phiri of John Howard compound who has been charged for murdering his son, Edward Phiri by making him take Doom insecticide. Phiri later buried the body within the premises of Daso School where he worked as a caretaker.

The case was adjourned to September 12, 2017 for another mention and Phiri was remanded in custody as he awaited instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to commit him to the High Court for trial.

According to the police, Phiri was reported to Chawama police station on August 6, 2017 on grounds that he had killed the toddler and buried the body within the school premises.

Upon being interviewed, Phiri confessed that it was on June 26, 2017 around 19:00 hours at Daso School in John Howard compound when he murdered his son by making him drink Doom insecticide and buried the body in the school premises the following day.

He later showed police officers where he buried the boy and after being interviewed for the second time, he told them that a bottle containing the remaining Doom was still in his house.

Phiri then led the officers to the house where the bottle was found under his bed. The boy’s body was later exhumed and post mortem was conducted at the school. When he was formally charged and arrested for murder, he gave a free and voluntary statement admitting the charge.

In another court, a Lusaka man was handed an eight-year jail sentence for burglary and theft.

Before Magistrate Felix Kaoma was Bryan Phiri who was found guilty of breaking into two houses, on different occasions, and stealing various items including, plasma television sets, laptop, mobile phones, clothes and cash last December.

Phiri was initially jointly charged with his co-accused Dickson Phiri who readily admitted the charge and was convicted and sentenced accordingly but the former pleaded not guilty, leading to his trial.

Mr. Kaoma said upon considering evidence before him, “the sum total of all this leads to one inescapable conclusion that accused number one (Bryan Phiri) acted with accused number two in breaking into the houses and stealing from therein while the owners were asleep.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution have proved their case beyond any reasonable doubt and I find the accused guilty and convict him accordingly.”

He later sentenced Phiri to five years imprisonment with hard labour in the first count, and three years in the second count but the sentences would run concurrently meaning that he would serve five years.

Mr. Kaoma said the sentence was aimed at deterring would-be offenders from committing similar offences which were rampant in Zambia.