Killer driver fined K750, 000 for reckless driving
Mangochi First Grade Magistrate’s Court Monday convicted Lucius Kazembe, 32, by ordering him to pay a fine of MK 750 000.00 or in default serve a custodial sentence of 36 months for causing death through reckless driving.
The court heard that on July 22, 2017 at around 10:00 am, Kazembe was driving a Toyota Voxy registration number MJ 2145 from Liwonde Township to Mangochi district.
Upon arrival at Wanja Village, Kazembe failed to control the vehicle and hit two male students from St. John DMI University who were walking on the road side.
“The car was over speeding, Kazembe failed to control it and he hit the students in the process,” Police Prosecutor Sub. Inspector Maxwell Mwaluka of Mangochi Police told the court.
He said the other students escaped unhurt while Phuziro Matupa, 22, died while receiving treatment at Mangochi District Hospital.
Matupa hailed from Simon Mtambo Village in Traditional Authority Nsomba in Blantyre.
Kazembe was fought guilty of reckless driving contrary to Section 126 (4c) of the Road Traffic Act.
In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency but Sub Inspector Mwaluka asked the court to give Kazembe stiffer punishment to deter would be culprits.
Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Ronald Mbwana said road accidents due to reckless driving are on the increase in the country.
He, therefore, ordered Kazembe to pay the fine of K750, 000 or serve a jail sentence of 36 months if he fails to.
Kazembe, who comes from Mtenje Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimwala in Mangochi, has since paid the fine and the bereaved family will receive MK250, 000 as compensation.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Thats unfair MK250,000 is not enough…….you mean the life of Phuziro Matupa was exchanged with that amount………………………………………………………………………………………………
that’s unfair he would have been sentenced to life imprisonment
do you know a car?
Indeed unfair. The State Advocate Chambers should have a look at the judgement and file an appeal against the sentence. On the other hand, the compensation is peanuts. Had relatives of the deceased instituted civil damages for loss of these students, the compensation would have adequately compensated them for the loss.