Malawi albino killers sentenced to 25 years in jail: Warning of graphic photos

Two men have been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in Malawi after being found guilty of murdering an albino Davis Fretcher Machinjiri a week ago.

The two heard through state prosecutor assistant Superintendent Patrick Bean Chambuluka that Vuto Biswick and Emmanuel Robert on the 23 April 2016 at Chimoto village in the area of traditional authority Kaphuka in Dedza killed the person with albinism because they believed his body parts had special powers.

After killing Machinjiri, took some of the body parts to Mozambique for rituals.

Witchdoctors say potions made from the body parts of albinos – who lack pigment in their skin, eyes and hair – can bring good luck and wealth. They are prepared to pay K50 million for a complete set of albino body parts.

But authorities said such beliefs were false.

Chambuluka told the court that though these two pleaded guilty as charged, they deserve a stiff sentence.

Before passing sentence the first grade Magistrate Enete Jiya Banda took the picture and showed the court how a 17 year old Machinjiri was butchered to death by two young offenders.

Enete Jiya Banda said that what the convicts did is unwelcome to the society.

She said that a life was lost because of the convicts and  sentenced them to 6 years imprisonment with hard labour on the first count of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section  404 of penal code,12 years IHL on second count of abducting with intent to murder contrary to section 261 of penal code which she said should run concurrently and 13 years imprisonment with hard labour on third count of trafficking in person contrary to section 15 sub section  (1) of trafficking act no 3 of 2015.

The  court adjourned the case after state prosecutor appealed to seek interpretation from the  High Court on whether to proceed  with the offence as the offence of trafficking in person attracts the maximum sentence of 21years which is beyond jurisdiction of the first grade magistrate.

Officer in-charge for Dedza Mrs Emmie Soko assistant commissioner of police was among the audience in the court to witness the sentence of the albino murderers.

One of the people who attended the court told Nyasa Times: “These evil people should rot in jail, they are a disgrace. We don’t want them back into this community.”