A 35-YEAR-OLD man of Chipili in Luapula Province has been sentenced to death by hanging for axing another man to death.
Kennedy Sikapizye, a peasant farmer of Kasompe village, was recently convicted by the Mansa High Court after he was found guilty of murder.
Justice Petronella Ngulube convicted Sikapizye after a full trial was conducted.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution has negated all possible defences and has proved its case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt,” Justice Ngulube said.
Particulars of the offence are that Sikapizye murdered Collins Chipanta on January 10 this year in Chipili.
During trial, Webster Kaoma, 22, the brother of the deceased, told the court that around 18:00 hours on the material day, he was with Mr Chipanta after they both returned from work.
Mr Kaoma told the court that he rode a bicycle slowly as his brother followed behind while they chatted.
“I later saw a man coming in front of us carrying an axe on his shoulder and soon after, I heard my brother shout out in pain,” he said.
Mr Kaoma said he saw the man with the axe running into the bush and he noticed that his brother had a deep cut on his chest and was bleeding profusely.
“I know the man who hit my brother, I have seen him looking for employment at our place of work,” he said.
Mr Kaoma said his brother died soon after and the matter was reported to police.
In defence, the convict said there was a struggle for the axe between him and Mr Chipanta and the latter fell on the axe, which wounded him.
Meting out the sentence, Justice Ngulube said there was no evidence of provocation on the part of the deceased and Sikapizye killed an innocent man.
“I accordingly retain the mandatory verdict for the offence of murder, the death sentence,” Mrs Ngulube said.