Wife-beater jailed 13 years in Malawi: Victim has permanent disfigurement on her body

A disgraced husband John Yasini has been jailed for 13 and half years with hard labour by Mchinji Magistrate Court for beating his 18 year old wife Linda Phulani who sustained serious injuries on allegation that she was cheating on him.

Police prosecutor Humphrey Makhalira told the court on Tuesday that in April this year Yasini beat the wife with chains and rods sustaining deep cuts on her back at Kumbuyo village, Tembwe in T/A Mlonyeni in the district..

This was after she went to see her friend against her husband order.

“Linda sustained serious injuries in her buttocks as a result of the beating but Yasini locked her in his house for five days without seeking medical attention,” Makhalira told the court.

He said Yasini later took Linda to a herbalist, Malunga Kalumikiza, who alerted the police after seeing the horrific wounds on her body.

Earlier, pictures of Linda’s wounds were tendered in the court as evidence and a medical report from Mchinji District where Linda spent three months recuperating was also shown to the court.

The medical report among other things suggested that Linda has now permanent disfigurement on her body and Linda has developed a perpetual fear of men and has a psychological disorder.

The report also says Linda won’t be able to perform duties as a woman.

Yasini pleaded guilty to the charge of grievous harm and asked for leniency from the court saying he loves his wife and that he would take care of her if he was acquitted.

He also caused drama in court when he told the Magistrate that he had enough ‘property’ to take care of his wife, but when quizzed further he cited two goats and a bull, which his father denied.

Passing the sentence, Mchinji First Grade Magistrate Rodwell Meja Phiri who looked visibly angry said Yasini acted like a lion when beating his wife causing deep wounds.

“We should thank the herbalist who alerted the police otherwise Linda could have died, saying the pictures shown to the court showed Linda was in great pain,” he added.

Magistrate Meja Phiri said courts are there to protect people from injustice and being lenient with Yasini would mean encouraging domestic violence.

“ I will be a little lenient with you, this charge of grievous harm carries a maximum of 14 years Imprisonment with hard labour but since you pleaded guilty to the charge, I am sentencing you to 13 and half years to deter the would be offenders,” the Magistrate said, amid nods from a jam packed court.

Speaking in an interview earlier, Linda Phulani told Mana her wounds had healed but she has problems walking properly.

She also said she wished Yasini was given a life sentence.

Linda a primary school drop out said she will go back to school in September this year, saying she now realises that early marriage was not good for her.

Meanwhile a Mchinji non governmental organisation Women’s Hope for Change which promotes women’s rights say they are satisfied with the court ruling, saying this has intensified their fight against gender based violence

The organisation Executive Director Mrs. Hellen Makukula said Mchinji has experienced worst forms of women abuses this year and the stiff punishment to Yasini has motivated her organisation to fight more.

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati visted the woman when she was in hospital and warned that government would not watch the trend continue but let the arm of law take its course on men who abuse their wives.

She also advised girls not to drop out of school and get married saying education advancement in women could help reduce the burden of gender based violence on them.

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