The Lusaka High Court sentenced to death Evans Mazuba...

The Lusaka High Court sentenced to death Evans Mazuba and sent his two younger brothers to prison for the murder of an eight-year-old girl. High Court Judge Thomas Ndhlovu sentenced Evans, 21 of Lusaka to death, for murdering Bethsheba Chawaya on May 26, last year. The court ordered Victor, 19, and the 16 year old brother to be sent to prison under Presidential detention following a report from the social welfare department, that said both were under 18 at the time the crime was committed and were first offenders of sober character coming from a broken home. In sentencing the trio, Judge Ndhlovu said were it up to him, all the three brothers would have faced the death penalty, but he had to contend with Section 25 sub section 2 which dictates that younger accomplices be detained at the pleasure of the President. "You all deserve the death penalty but you are lucky that there is a provision for you under section 25 and I can not go behind it; otherwise all of you are guilty and should have faced the death penalty," said Judge Ndhlovu.