By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Senior Magistrate Abdulrahaman Maulidi sitting in Mzimba from Mzuzu on Monday May 9,2022 acquitted Mzimba- based Ministry of Information Journalist Jeremiah Mphande, 42, who was answering a defilement case.
Delivering the ruling, Maulidi said there was no evidence to show that Mphande had defiled his wife’s niece,15.
Maulidi added that on January 24, 2021, the wife of the suspect (Mirriam Banda) only found her husband (Mphande) with the victim in the same room and there was no clear evidence that the two had sexual intercourse.
He quashed aside a medical report from Mzimba District Hospital saying it lacked merit as it did not show clearly that sexual penetration occurred.
Gilbert Khonyongwa, a lawyer representing Mphande said had expected the ruling as evidence brought before court was clear about his client’s Innocence.
On his part, State Prosecutor Issac Imedi said the ‘ shocking ruling’ is due to the witnesses ( wife and the victim) turning hostile in court by contradicting their initial statements.
On February 1, 2021, Mphande handed himself to the police upon learning that the police were looking for him over his defilement allegations.
