ABSENCE OF PATHOLOGIST DELAYS MUKATA’S CASE

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:38:58 +0000

By Chintu Malambo

THE case involving UPND Chilanga Member of Parliament, Keith Mukata and his co-accused Charmaine Musonda who are facing one count of allegedly murdering a security guard, yesterday failed to take off in the Lusaka High Court because the Pathologist in the matter is out of Zambia.

When the matter came up for continued trial, before High Court Justice Susan Wanjelani, the prosecution team told the court that they were unable to proceed with the matter as the Pathologist was out of the country.

The court heard that the prosecution would decide whether to carry on with trial without the testimony of the Pathologist but that it had not yet arrived at that decision.

“The matter is coming up for continued hearing, however, we are unable to proceed today as other witnesses and the pathologist is out of the country. We are still trying to decide whether to continue trial without him but we have not yet arrived on that decision,” they said.

The state further applied to have the matter adjourned to September 21.

And defence counsel, Eric Silwamba did not object to adjourning the matter and Justice Wanjelani granted the application to have the matter adjourned to September 21.

Mukata and Musonda are facing one count of murdering Namakabwa Kalilakwenda, a security guard on May 6 who was on duty at AKM legal practitioners, the law firm belonging to Mr Mukata.