Malawi boy kills 3-year cousin,removes private parts: Mob justice in Salima
A 12-year-old boy is in police custody at Nkhunga Police Station for allegedly murdering his three-year-old cousin by stabbing him and removing his private parts using a knife.
The incident occurred on Sunday December 9, 2012 at about 5:00 pm at Mulaza Village (popularly known as Mlala) in the area of Traditional Authority Kanyenda in Nkhotakota district.
Nkhunga Police Spokesperson Laban Makalani said during the time, the father of the children identified as John Robert is reported to have left the children playing at home.
“Upon his return, he was surprised to discover that both children were missing. The parent alongside relatives within the village mounted up a search and managed to trace the body of the three-year-old boy indentified as Isaac Mbewe of the same village lying dead inside a nearby sugar-cane field,” he said.
Makalani said the issue was reported to Nkhunga Police Station who rushed to the scene and took the body of the deceased to Matiki Health Centre for an autopsy.
“It was later leant that the suspect (name withheld), a standard three pupil at Mlala Full Primary School, had taken refuge at the house of his grandfather within the same area,” he said.
Relatives of the suspect surrendered him to the police early morning of December 10th.
The spokesperson said medical officers at Matiki Health Centre discovered that the body of the deceased had been stabbed on different parts such as the head, neck, abdomen and that his private parts were completely chopped off.
“The boy admitted of committing the hideous crime and claimed that he was influenced by evil spirits. The 12 year old, who also admitted to practising witchcraft, led the police to the scene of crime where a knife which he had used during the killing was recovered.
“Currently, the police are working together with officials from Social Welfare Office and paralegal officers in the district to map out proper legal actions against him since our current law clearly states that a child under the age of 14 years is not liable to answer any crime,” Makalani said.
Mob justice
In Salima, a theft suspect died at a District Hospital on Friday where he was receiving treatment on the wounds he sustained after he was severely beaten by a mob which had caught him stealing goats.
Police identified the deceased suspect as Ashani Tsokonombwe 35, from Chambwinja village Traditional Authority (TA) Kachindamoto in Dedza district.
Police publicist Gift Chitowe said that the suspect and an accomplice on the night of December 5th entered Kumalendo Village T/A Kambalame in Salima to steal goats.
Tsokonombwe becomes the 4th suspect to die from mob justice this year in Salima.
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