A 27-year-old man who pleaded for mercy after admitting to having sex with a goat has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labor.
The Nkhunga First Grade Magistrate Court in Nkhotakota convicted Sandram Lyson after being found guilty of committing the offence on May 26, 2026, at Chamalala Village, where he was allegedly caught in the act.
During court proceedings, Lyson admitted the charge and appealed for a lighter sentence, telling the court that he acted out of uncontrollable sexual urges and that the animal happened to be nearby.
However, State prosecutor Sergeant Mussa Samuten opposed any leniency, arguing that the offence was serious and warranted a stiff punishment to deter others from engaging in similar acts.
The differing positions set the stage for a court battle over an appropriate sentence, with the defence seeking mercy while the prosecution pushed for a tougher penalty.
In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Kingsley Buleya sided with the State, rejecting the plea for leniency and imposing a three-year prison sentence with hard labor.
Lyson, who comes from Nkhanje Village under Traditional Authority Mwanza in Salima District, was immediately taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
