State closes prosecution in Mukata’s case
THE state has closed its prosecution in a case where Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata and his co-accused Charmaine Musonda are facing one count of murdering a security guard.
In this matter, Mukata and Musonda are facing one count of murdering Namakambwa Kalilakwenda, a security guard who had been on duty at AKM legal practitioners, the law firm belonging to Mr Mukata.
It was alleged that the deceased was shot dead at the said law firm located in Rhodes Park, Alex Masala Road on May 6, 2017.
When the matter came up for continued trial before High Court Judge Susan Wanjelani yesterday, Mubita Moya, the arresting office and last witness, testified that when he arrived at the crime scene, he found onlookers harassing Mr Mukata and that the scene was contaminated as there were a lot of people at the time.
He testified that he chased the onlookers who had started insulting and even threatening to beat up Mukata.
And in cross examination, detective Moya denied having charged and arrested the accused before concluding investigations on the matter.
He told the court that he made up his mind to arrest Mukata and Musonda because of the postmortem report which indicated that the deceased died as a result of two penetrated gunshot wounds.
Earlier in his testimony, Mr Moya testified that the deceased was shot at, using Mr Mukata's firearm whose serial number is PZ 2113C.
But defence counsel Bonaventure Mutale asked the witness to show the court which part of his report showed that the shooting was done using Mr Mukata’s firearm.
However, Mr Mutale informed the court that they intended to make a submission of no case to answer. The submission will be filed on October, 9, 2017 while the state said that they would make their submission by October 12, 2017.
Justice Wanjelani said she would make her ruling on the submissions on a date to be communicated.