Juvenile testifies in manslaughter case

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has heard how a police officer allegedly shot dead a Mtendere resident during a fight with two others.
In this case, Husrt Matende, 40 a police officer of Mtendere is charged with manslaughter contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Matende on June 26, in Lusaka unlawfully caused the death of Quintine Chibangu.
Testifying before High Court judge Mungeni Mulenga, a juvenile witness, who is a grade eight pupil at Vera Chiluba School, said on the material day between 18:00 hours and 19:00 hours, her father sent her to buy Super Shake at a nearby shop when she found Chibangu standing at the entrance of the shop.
The juvenile said a certain man went to him and attempted to remove his hands from the security grill door he held on to but he failed.
She said another man joined him and the two pulled him and managed to remove his hands from the door.

The juvenile said Chibangu then asked the people to leave him alone but they instead started beating him up.
“So they grabbed him and started beating him. They lifted him by the legs, his head facing down and they dropped him to the ground,” she said.
The juvenile said she later went home to cook nshima when she heard two gunshots.
After that, another girl rushed to inform her that Chibangu had been killed.
In cross-examination, the girl said Chibangu was holding a stone when she saw him at the entrance of the shop but she did not hear him utter any word.
The juvenile said the police officer appearing in court was not among those who were fighting with Chibangu.
She further said she did not know the person who fired the gunshots.
The case has been adjourned to November 25 for continued of trial.

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