Murder trial hears RBM employee died weeks before planned pension change

Chilling new evidence has emerged in the murder trial of a Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) employee, after a court heard that the victim had expressed intentions to change her pension beneficiary just weeks before her death — changes she never lived to make.

Pensions Administration Supervisor Yvone Jere told the High Court in Lilongwe today that Agnes Katengeza had indicated in September 2023 that she intended to amend the beneficiaries listed on her pension nomination form.

But in a chilling twist, Jere revealed that Agnes died just three weeks later — before she could ever make those changes — leaving her nomination form unaltered, with Egnat Katengeza remaining the sole named beneficiary.

Jere’s testimony formed part of a series of State witnesses presented in the ongoing murder trial involving Amos Katengeza and Egnat Katengeza, who both stand accused of causing the death of their relative.

The court also heard testimony from a clinical officer regarding the post-mortem examination carried out on Agnes’ body, as well as evidence from witnesses representing Airtel, who presented telecommunications records relevant to the case.

Presiding Judge Bruno Kalemba has since adjourned proceedings until Wednesday, when the State is expected to conclude the presentation of its remaining witnesses.

The prosecution is being led by Director of Criminal Litigation in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Dzikondianthu Malunda, while the two accused are being represented separately by lawyers Kavu Kaphwiti Banda and Khumbo Soko.

Body found in car boot behind shopping mall

Agnes, who worked at the RBM, was killed in September 2023, with her body later discovered stuffed in the boot of her own vehicle behind Gateway Mall in Lilongwe — a case that has continued to draw significant public attention as harrowing details of the investigation unfold in court.

The revelation that Agnes had signalled her intention to change her pension beneficiary just weeks before her death is likely to add further weight to the prosecution’s case, as the trial continues to build a picture of the events surrounding her killing.