Reeves Malambo killer to hang
AUTOFORCE proprietor, Reeves Malambo's killer Tshiabu Benos has been sentenced to death by hanging after the Lusaka High Court dismissed her defence of intoxication, provocation and self defence. High Court judge in-charge, Getrude Chawatama found Benos guilty of murder and convicted her accordingly. Justice Chawatama directed that Benos who was Mr Malambo's lover be hanged by the neck until pronounced dead. "I find that the fact that you stabbed the deceased in the back means that you could not have been in any danger and the deceased could not have attacked you. "The court finds that you did that with malice aforethought. I sentence you to death and direct that you be hanged by the neck until pronounced dead, may the Lord have mercy on your soul," Judge Chawatama said. Benos 38, stabbed Mr Malambo 48, with a knife (dagger) after a fight at her home in Ibex Hill between January 29 and 30 2017. The court discredited the evidence of her brother saying that his testimonies were not consistent. She said it was hard to believe their credibility especially since they were her relatives and possibly had an interest to serve. Judge Chawatama said most of Beno's defence was an afterthought and her claim that Mr Malambo wanted to hurt her could not be supported by any evidence because she did not report to anyone. "It is hard to believe her claim that she was beaten because she did not report to anyone and neither of her witness testified seeing her bruises, I am not satisfied that the acts of provocation have been demonstrated, " she said. Justice Chawatama said defence witness Tamara Muswara, who had worked as a maid in Benos's house could not have had a motive to lie when she testified that she heard Benos telling Mr Malambo that; “iwe Reeves wachilamo kunimenya ine, manje nizakupaya”, meaning “it is too much of you Reeves beating me, so now I will kill you”. She said Ms Muswara had no motive to give false evidence as she did not have an interest or purpose to serve.