Abusive husband gets 30 months jail sentence
The Mzuzu First Magistrate Court has disregarded pleas from the wife of a convict to pardon her abusive husband by slapping a 30 months imprisonment with hard labor sentence to a 22-year-old man who broke both his wife’s hands.
The court also waved section 340 of the Criminal Evidence and Procedure Code which empowers Magistrates to give a lenient sentence to first offenders if they are young persons.
The Magistrate convicted Vincent Ngulube of Msamala Village, Traditional Authority Mpherembe, Mzimba District, on his own plea of guilty of the offence of Acts intended to cause grievous harm contrary to section 235(a) of the Penal Code.
The offence attracts life imprisonment as maximum sentence.
Magistrate Brian Msiska was expected to deliver sentence on August 6, 2013 but adjourned the case to August 8 2013 following the wife’s plea.
Two days ago, the convict’s wife Irene Manda of Zamlomo Village, Traditional Authority Timbiri in Nkhata Bay District asked the court to free his convicted husband claiming she will suffer if the breadwinner is locked behind bars.
Manda is unable to perform any tasks or household chores.
However, Msiska concurred with the State saying it is the Courts’ duty to give deterrent sentences that will make men learn to respect or treat women amicably.
“The Court has considered the nature of the offence and the sentence. The offence committed is serious in nature therefore the Court was of the view to disregard the said section.
“The Court has also taken cognizance of the fact the convict is a Husband and I also of the view that he would have resolved the differences amicably than resort to violence,” Magistrate Brian Msiska said.
Two days ago, the convict’s wife Irene Manda of Zamlomo Village, Traditional Authority Timbiri in Nkhata Bay District asked the Court to free his convicted Husband claiming she will suffer if the breadwinner is locked behind bars.
Manda is unable to perform any tasks or household chores.
Last week, the same Court convicted Ngulube for fracturing his wife’s hands after an altercation turned sour following the disappearance of MK2000 from his trouser’s pockets.
The Court heard through State Prosecutor Sergeant Keston Chiona that on July 24, 2013 at Chiputula Township in Mzuzu, Ngulube came drunk home and slept up to about midnight but woke up and started accusing the wife of taking Mk200 from his pockets.
“They started arguing and in the process he started beating his wife and eventually broke both of her hands. Neighbors rescued her and took her to hospital,” Chiona said.
The State then asked the Court to mete a deterrent sentence despite the fact that the convict is a first offender arguing that violence against women was on the rise.
“It is the duty of the Courts and Police to protect women in this country,” Chiona said.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
