Postmortem preliminary report says anti-Ansah protester died of infected wounds
An anti-Jane Ansah protester who died in Mzuzu on Thursday died of an infected wounds which were not treated, a preliminary post mortem report on Justin Phiri.
Precious Kondowe, lawyer for Phiri’s family said the wounds were as a result of assault.
“He has died of untreated infected wounds. We have now overwhelming evidence that he was heavily assaulted,” said Kondowe.
Phiri and 18 other were answering inciting violence charges after they were allegedly held an illegal anti-Jane Ansah protest which resulted in scuffles with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers who assaulted the protesters.
Phiri’s mother said her son died in a police cell after the police removed him from Mzuzu prison following protests over the failure by the law enforcers to bring him to hospital for treatment.
“I do not understand why the police refused to bring him to hospital. My son died in a police cell,” said the mother.
She said Phiri looked after four of her siblings as their father died long ago.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson for the north Happy Mhango described the death of Phiri as shocking and accused the soldiers of using excessive force on unarmed protesters.
Malawi Human Rights Commission says it is investigating the death.
It is sad that life is lost. Now that he is dead we know that the deceased was a guardian to children. If he had taken responsibility this death could have been avoided. This thing breaks my heart. I don’t know why we are sacrificing our lives and that of our families on the alter of demonstrations. Life of a poor Malawian is lost. His family is suffering yet Mtambo and Trapence are enjoying their lives and supporting their families. For how long shall we continue to be used by disgruntled people? I am speechless. Phukusi lamoyo umazisungira wekha. My… Read more »
Mtambo and Trapence have now achieved their objectives .We have been saying kuti panopa si ma demo Mtambo ndi mzakeyu zilipo zimene akufuna.Kuti mukhulupilire kuti nkhani si ma demo, mumva kuti apitilizabe ma demo, kuzivulala anthu ambiri kapena kuphedwa kumene, iwo ku mtima mbeeee.
Achitsiru inu. Pali nkhani yoti munthu atha kumasangalala nayo apa?
Mumudandaulile Ntambo ngati prezident wanu.AmaDEMO Inu anthu ooopppppuusssa kwabili.
It is alleged that the deceased was denied access to medical attention that is what we should all be condemning. However he found himself on the streets is besides the point because there are many instances that can result in being under police custody. So if police deny people access to medical attention then we are all bound to be victimized one way or the other!
well answered..
A Malawi umbuli basi,a normal person can not comment such silly thing
kuyankhula kwa pachiphwisi ngati uku nkofunika anthu apamtumbo kukamwa ngati………..Anzako akudandaula munthu anafa iwe ukuika comment ya chiphwethelere.Za machende basi.
Nawenso udyeko zamisonkho ya A TUMBUKA NDI AWA AGULEWA
Those who have Children participating in Demonstrations advice them not to carry any weapon or be violent to any Military Officer, Army or Police. They have a life to live, its only lived once, the Organisers are not exposing their family members but other peoples Children and they are not concerned and dont have the funds to compesate, they depend on winning court cases which may at times be tricky. Some of the people participating in the Demonstrations are hardcore criminals and promising young people may be caught in crossfire and loose their lives, while those hardened criminals know how… Read more »
A army nanu kuchita chomenya choncho? Mwayamba kuipitsa mbiri yanu tsopano. Muotchetsa akasinja anuwotu. Zikumakukanikani ku DRC uko. Mukuwaonelara a Malawife eti. If you don’t work for Malawians you will provoke the emergence of militias who will be bad news for you. Ambiri ai inu ndinu amantha kale. Munalowera achibale. Ambirinunso ndinu osamphunzira. Muzaithawa itati ibwere. So please preserve your good character otherwise there will be a third force which will be shadowy and vindictive and vengeful against you and your political masters the DPP. Avoid being used by these nepostistic corrupt Lomwes. Their time is soon coming to and… Read more »
I would like to condole the Phiri Family for the loss of the life of their son, May God please heal you on this loss. Liphava Namandwa you are a senseless commentator, you can not intimidate the Army, they were doing their work and defending themselves from demonstrators. Demonstrations that took place in Karonga were illegal and it was clearly communicated to the Demonstrators that there was supposed to be no Demonstrations that day, unfortunately HRDC people want fame they never stopped people in Karonga from holdining any protest. The Army tried to reason with the people, instead some people… Read more »
Mwayamba kunyozanso a MDF eti? Anthu opanda pabwino inu. Do not provoke our army, mulekeretu munya muona…
This is unfortunate and unnecessary loss of a life. Sad that many suspects continue to die whilst under police custody after Kwacha Ghambi, Matafale, Buleya Lule and now this Justin Phiri. Our police is supposed to be a reformed one after the British government lavished millions of pounds. The sad thing is that those responsible for what has led this loss of life won’t be taken to account but our taxes will be used to compensate for the negligence
at least a sensible comment. Kudos to you!
Please go and complain to Mtambo, Trapence et al who have been mobilising these guys to demonstrate. Your man died on duty. As such his family needs to be paid workman’s compensation. These organisers have siblings but they discourage their siblings from demonstrating. Watch out. Do not be fooled.
Unlawful assembly has consequences, this is one of them
Are you suggesting this one was also unlawful? Do you understand the definition of “unlawful?”
Any death is painful and regrettable. My condolence to the deceased family. However I feel that prevention is much much better than any other alternative.
I feel that for the sake of one’s life and health it is not proper for individuals to be attending these demos.
Life is more precious than any other thing. Even if the family will be compensated they will never fill the void left by him
May his soul rest in peace
Mtambo and Trapence disowned these demos kuti they had cancelled demos.
So , the response is to Kill ?