The Zambian Supreme Court upheld the decision of the...

The Zambian Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court to sentence Felix Chima, a security guard, to death. Chima, 30, had appealed against his conviction and sentence by the High Court for the murder of Willy Strak on September 25, 2000 in Chingola. According to the evidence, Mr Strak was on the same day supposed to leave for Lusaka with his workmates, but when they went to pick him up, Chima, who was guarding the house, told them that he was under instruction not to open the gate for anyone. Chima later told Mr Strak's workmates that he had gone out with a Zambian girlfriend. The court heard that on the same day, the owner of the security firm Chima was working for went to the house, where she discovered blood on Strak's car and in the garage in what appeared like an attempt by someone to wash the blood stains away. Chima was later picked up by police whom he led to a manhole where Mr Strak's body was found covered in white plastic bags and a string tied round the neck. In delivering judgment Supreme Court Justice, Peter Chitengi, with Chief Justice Enerst Sakala and Justice Lombe Chibesakunda said there was no merit in Chima's appeal. Justice Chitengi said even though there was no direct link that Chima murdered Mr Strak, the trail of blood and the body being found in a manhole in the premises of the house linked Chima to the death. The court said Chima was the last one to see Mr Strak and that he was found with K280,000 in blood-stained notes.