Malawi court convicts man for breaking wife’s hands because of K2,000
The Mzuzu Magistrate Court has convicted a 22-year-old man for breaking his wife’s both hands after accusing her of stealing MK2,000 from the pockets of his trousers.
However, the convict, Vincent Ngulube of Msamala Village, Traditional Authority Mpherembe, Mzimba District, stunned the court in mitigation when he questioned the contents of a medical report the State tendered as part of evidence.
Ngulube said he did not believe what was written on it despite the fact that his wife’s hands were encased in Plaster of Paris (POP).
He said the report was not credible.
Ngulube also asked for leniency saying he committed the crime under the influence of alcohol.
“I was drunk and out of my senses,” he pleaded.
The wife, Irene Manda of Zamlomo Village, Traditional Authority Timbiri in Nkhata Bay District, said she is unable to perform any tasks or household chores.
The court convicted Ngulube 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. It attracts life imprisonment as maximum sentence.
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 money from his pockets.
“They started arguing and in the process he started beating his wife and eventually broke both of her hands. Neighbours rescued her and took the woman 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.
First Grade Magistrate Dungamise Msiska will deliver sentence on August 6, 2013.
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