GIRLFRIEND NABBED OVER CATHOLIC PRIEST'S MURDER

POLICE have apprehended a Ndola-based woman, Justina Luchele to help with investigations over the death of a Catholic priest, Deodatus Mbebe, who is also alleged to have been her boyfriend.

Father Mbebe died after he was brutally attacked near Ms Luchele's home in Ndola’s Pamodzi Township on Saturday evening.

Fr Mbebe, who was at the time unidentified, was discovered on Saturday by residents near his girlfriend’s home.

Some neighbours who declined to disclose their particulars to the police found him dead with multiple face injuries and a concrete brick beside his body.

They told police officers that on the material day around 21:30 hours, they found the body lying on the ground facing upwards with multiple head injuries and that they did not hear anything apart from the dogs barking.

Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Sharon Zulu said brief facts leading to the identification of the deceased was that Ms Luchele called the priest's childhood friend Mr Simon Muleba inquiring the whereabouts of his friend on Sunday morning.

Ms Zulu said Mr Muleba became concerned upon receipt of the call because he was sure that the man was at his girlfriend's home.

She said that Ms Luchele however explained that the priest left her place around 16:00 hours on Saturday while driving her vehicle, a Toyota Corolla VVTI registration number ACV 8334 silver in colour going to Ndola Bowling Club and did not return.

Ms Zulu said police also found two phones belonging to the priest in Ms Luchele’s home.

“Further investigations have also revealed that Ms Luchele, a nurse at Arthur Davison Children's Hospital and the priest had been in a relationship since 2002.

“During the search in her house, police found the priest's clothes, including a Catholic Robe, shoes, two wrist watches, his portrait photo on the wall, and some documents,” Ms Zulu said.

Fr Mbebe’s body was deposited in Ndola Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem and burial.