ZAMBIA: KILLER MUST HANG, RULES SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court upheld a High Court death sentence slapped on a man of Chilanga who burnt to death his son, uncle and aunt-in-law after he failed to convince his estranged wife to return home.
Kenneth Hakaunga set his in-law’s house on fire resulting in the death of the three.
Supreme Court Judge Mumba Malila, sitting with judges Gregory Phiri and Elizabeth Muyovwe in Ndola, noted that the background facts of the case represented a resounding example of gender-based violence escalated to the highest level.
The court heard that Hakaunga on September 20, 2013, caused the death of Safari Phiri, Evelina Phiri and his son Webby through an act of arson.
Facts in the case were that Hakaunga was married to Fides Sakala, who was Mr Phiri’s niece, but during their marriage, he physically abused her.
It is also on record that Ms Sakala endured a very difficult marriage until she decided to leave her matrimonial home to go and stay with her uncle, Mr Phiri.
Hakaunga was last April convicted and sentenced to death by the Lusaka High Court, but he appealed against the sentence in the Supreme Court.