Tasila Tembo’s suspected murderer’s trial stalls

TRIAL in the matter in which a Zambia Army officer, Lieutenant Nigel Mwaba is accused of killing Dr Tasila Tembo failed to take off yesterday because his mental assessment report is not ready.

Mwaba 33, is between October 24 and 26, 2020 alleged to have murdered Dr Tembo. But he denied committing the offence.

On February, Mwaba’s lawyers applied that he be taken to Chainama Hospital for assessment of a psychiatric disorder called disruptive impulse control and conduct disorder.

Disruptive impulse control and conduct disorder is a medical condition that causes people to behave angrily or aggressively towards people or property as they have difficulties in controlling their emotions and behaviour.

When the matter came up for commencement of trial, his lawyer from Legal Aid Board Dr O’Brien Kaaba informed the court that the report was not yet ready.

“It will be ready in a few days. We therefore are not ready to proceed with trial today,” he told the court.

Judge Wilfred Muma however asked the defence team to be specific on which day the report would be ready to avoid adjournments.

Dr Kaaba said Mwaba’s examination was concluded on Wednesday and the report will be ready in two days.

Judge Muma then adjourned the matter to April 19 for commencement of trial.

Police had told the nation that Dr Tasila’s body was discovered in a decomposed state covered with leaves and was partially buried at a traditional burial site in Nanking Army Training Centre in Mikango Barracks area.