Accused cell phone had video of victims’ murder, court told
A POLICE officer yesterday testified how he discovered a horror video on a cell phone of a suspect showing human beings being murdered by way of removing their hearts, ears and male organs.
Detective Chief Inspector Mutakatala Mwiya of Matero police station was giving evidence in the Lusaka High Court in a case in which two soldiers and two civilians face seven counts of murders linked to a spate of ritual killings that rocked George and Zingalume townships in Lusaka last year.
The suspects are Lucky Siame, 46, a soldier of Lilanda Military Camp, Lewis Chishimba, a traditional healer of Lusaka West, Christopher Kasapo, an office assistant at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) of Zingalume, and Elvis Nyanga, a soldier of Kandundu in Solwezi.
Chief Inspector Mwiya testified that he received information from a reliable source that there was a traditional healer called Mumbo Lwambazi in George compound who was cleansing four people haunted by evil spirits.
“Lwambazi told me that he was approached by four people who were introduced to him by Lucky Siame and they told him that they had killed some people in George compound and were being haunted by spirits,” Chief Inspector Mwiya said.
Chief Inspector testified that he apprehended the suspects whom he verbally cautioned in connection with the matter.
Upon searching the suspects, he recovered a cellphone from Christopher Kasapo and after searching it, he came across a horror video showing human beings murdered by removing their hearts, ears and male organs.
He also found a message in the same phone where Kasapo was telling his wife that his neighbour Lewis Chishimba was also involved in the murders.
Meanwhile, when Detective Mwiya testified that Siame confessed to have worked with Collins (Elvis Nyanga), defence lawyer Humphrey Mweemba objected to the testimony arguing that the statement was obtained from his client under torture.
Mr Mweemba requested that the case goes into a trial within a trial to prove that his client willingly gave that statement.
But Prosecution lawyer Frank Sikazwe argued that the State wanted to rely on its witness’ testimony.
Justice Florence Lengalenga however, ordered a trial within a trial and trial continues on January 31, 2018.