By MULENGA MUSONDA
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy walked out of the Choma Magistrate’s Court a free person when he was discharged after being convicted of stealing two goats. This was in a matter in which the boy stood charged with stock theft contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that, the juvenile on March 6, 2021 in Choma stole two goats valued at K1, 000 the property of Mr Teddy Mwenya. He was apprehended the following day with the stolen animals before he was conveyed to the police where he was formally charged and arrested.
When the matter came up for facts before Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri, the boy, who was accompanied by his guardian admitted that the facts were correct. And in presenting the Social Welfare Report, Probation Officer Elizabeth Nshimbi told the Court that the juvenile was remorseful and vowed never to repeat his misdeeds.
She recommended that he be discharged as he is still a school and shows prospects of reforming. Magistrate Phiri observed the juvenile’s remorseful demeanour, and true to the probation officer’s recommendation, the court discharged the juvenile absolutely
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