The Lusaka High Court sentenced to death a 36-year-old...

The Lusaka High Court sentenced to death a 36-year-old man who strangled a security guard to death and stole a fridge and goods worth K1.2 million.
Joe Chibwe Kabangu, charged with aggravated robbery and the murder of John Nkweto, a security guard, was sentenced to death in the High Court by Supreme Court judge Peter Chitengi.
Justice Chitengi also sentenced Kabangu to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour for aggravated robbery with effect from April 18, 2000. According to the indictment, on April, 12, 2000, Kabangu while armed with an iron bar stole from the premises Nkweto was guarding a fridge and curtains worth K1.2 million and threatened to use actual violence.
On the same date, Kabangu unlawfully caused the death of Nkweto. In mitigation, Kabangu told the court that he suffers from epilepsy, that his parents were too old to fend for food and he was the family's bread winner. He further pleaded for the court's leniency citing the suffering his two children would encounter in the event of his imprisonment.
"I have taken into account your mitigation but sentences for the two offences are fixed by law. I have no option but to give you a capital punishment. I therefore, sentence you to death and you will be hanged by your neck until you are pronounced dead.
From here you will be taken to a place of execution where this sentence will take place. May the Lord God have mercy on you. But do not lose hope, you can still appeal to the higher court where they can review the sentence," said judge Chitengi.