Two men suspected to have killed and beheaded a couple and a five-year-old girl in Lilongwe are each facing three counts of murder.
State prosecutors took the two, 45-year-old Botisi Mphiningu and 21-year-old Sakile Zunda, to Lilongwe Magistrate Court where their charges were read out.
Senior Resident Magistrate Chisomo Msokera read out charges of the two suspects saying they each face three counts of murder all of which he said were contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.
The three counts each of the two suspects face are that, with malicious intentions between 14 and 15 April 2017 Mphiningu and Zunda respectively caused the death of Olivia Chawinga, the death of Queen Zgambo, and the death of Dalias Chawinga at Chadza 1 in Lilongwe.
Msokera told the suspects that the court had no mandate to grant them bail and that the court’s powers were limited as such their case would be committed to the High Court.
“This is not the beginning of your case but rather to bring to your attention the charges you face,” explained Msokera, adding that the two were free to seek legal aid.
The court has since put a remand order to the two of up to June 21, 2017 when the case will have been committed to the High Court for prosecution.
Meanwhile, a third suspect, Malekano Mphiningu was arrested on Friday at Mitundu in connection to the death of the Chawinga family.
Malekano, 30, is a brother to Botisi and the two were both implicated by Zunda as having taken part in the murder of the three, according to Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula.
The Chawinga family left their home in Rumphi with Zunda and they went to Lilongwe where the Chawingas bought a car at Biwi vehicle market.
According to Dandaula, Zunda took the three to Mitundu where Zunda’s mother stays but on the way they met Mphiningu who confronted Zunda over a K200,000 debt.
“Zunda said Mphiningu held the three hostage and vowed never to release them until Zunda settled the K200,000 debt,” said Dandaula, adding that a few days later the three bodies were found in Bunda Forest.
But Mphiningu in his police statement said he knew nothing about the Chawinga family massacre and that he had never met Zunda before.
The third suspect, Malekano, is yet to appear before court to hear the charges the state will level against him.
The Mphiningus are renowned businessmen in Mitundu and they hail from Chawala Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Chitseka in Lilongwe while Zunda hails from Mugula Village, TA Muzolokera, Rumphi.
Dalias Chawinga, 38, hailed from Chilundika Village TA Katumbi, Rumphi, while his wife, Queen Zgambo, 42, hailed from Mlongoti Village, TA Chikulamayembe, Rumphi.
Ine ndiyamike kumwamba kuti anthu amenewa apezeka ndithu ndiye inu majaji anthu akutsatila ndi chidwi nkhaniyi.Ineyo zimandiwawa kuti agalu ngati amenewa muzikawasunga Ku prison,ndiye Ineyo ngati mmodzi wodulidwa msonkho ndalama zanga zizikathandizila anthu amenewa Ku prisoniko ,bullshit
Let them face the music,then Death Penalty.otherwise mob justice igwire ntchito basi.
Following……..
Bwanji anthu amene mili okhudziwa kungopita ku police mdikawuza kuti tikala tokha basi mkudzawachitaso chimodzi modzi ngatig momwe anachitila iwowo kuti zithelane
akawolere konko akangotuluka tipha toka ndi miyala komanso kuwotcha ndi matayala
Paphetic indeed
Road. Watch
This looks like a ritual killing, Police should pin and torture these people to give out more information on what actually happened
Yeah They Hv To Pay 4 What They Did Or Otherwise Hand Them To Community To Do The Job
Kod Asatanawo Akut Mitu Yaanthu Osalakwao Anakasiya Kut, Nanga Powadula Mituo Cholinga Chawo Chinali Chan Abale? Ndithu Anthuo Nawonso Aphedwe Basi!
We want to see them. We are not ready to hear that they are given bail Never! Never! Never!!(
There photos please
Akatelo awapatse ma 5 years imprisonment ngati odula ziwalo aku Nkhotakota aja.
Kkkkk
Mayina amenewa ndi aku Malawi kuno
Anthu oipitsitsa amenewo akuyenela kuti anyongedwe basi .zigawenga zosanva chisoni ngati zimezo ndiye kuti ndi ntchito yawo zinayambula kale kupha anthu zifufuzeni bwino bwino ziulula ena omwe Zakhala zikupha (ana a njoka amenewo)
MULUNGU sangakhale opusa kumupanga munthu mchifanizilo chake nde munthu olengedwayo nkukhala wanzeru kuposa MULUNGUYO, lingatalike bwanji koma tsiku limakwana lomwe kothawila kumasowa. Analakwa chani anthu mpaka kuwapha? mukuenela kuankha wakupha Mulandu ndipo musakhalenso ndi Moyo MULUNGU Aziwe nanu chochita ndithu pakuti kulabga kuli kwake koma inu ndithu mulangidwe basi
zitsilu za majaji zakumalawi mumva kuti awapatsa bello
Let MOB deal with them so that they also must face the same death idiots
Anthu Oipa Amenewa Osawasekelera
Mmmm Kma Anthu? Mpaka Anthu Atatu Kuphedwa? Nkhani Yake Ndalama? Mmm
Most of people will say give them dealth pernalty but that is too good for them,Put them in a prison with no protection from other Inimates so that they should feel the same way this girl did
Awatulutsa pokondwerera kuti dzikoli lakwanitsa zaka 53 tikudzilamulira tokha popewa kuti angawawulule ao akhala apowo!!
After chawinga family was ransomed, why did zunda not reported the matter to police? These thugs must also be beheaded
awotchedwe anenewo basi!!! that was more than inhuman
Chinthu chanzeru chomwe court lipange aphedwe ndimpeni nawoso aivekuwawa imfa, adapanga nkhaza yayikulu zedi kuposa mnuwake wankhaza satana, ndiposo iwowa si a Malawi chifukwa M’Malawi ndiwachifundo inde naye amapha koma sadula mutu
aphedwe!!!! and it should be this year.
Afiti amenewo.
Anthuwa ofunikaso aphedwe!!!!thats inhuman!!!!!