A 27-year-old man in Mponela, Dowa, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting to death a 56-year-old man after allegedly finding him stealing maize in a field.
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The suspect, who was arrested on Wednesday at Nankhalu Village, has been identified as Faston Chagunda whereas the deceased is Mussa Kapambanya, all from Nankhalu Village in Traditional Authority Kayembe in Dowa District.
“It is reported that the suspect was coming from Lipiri Trading Centre at around 11 p.m. where he went to watch an English Champions League match. Upon reaching a maize field belonging to his in-law, he found Kapambanya allegedly stealing maize from the field.
“The suspect then started chasing Kapambanya until he overpowered and started assaulting him. By the time other people came, they found the victim unconscious,” said, Mponela Police Public Relations Officer, Macpatson Msadala.
Msadala said Kapambanya was later taken to Mbingwa Health Centre where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“The matter was reported to Mbingwa Police Unit after which detectives from Mponela Police Station visited the scene.
“Postmortem conducted by clinical staff from the health facility revealed that death was due to severe head injury secondary to assault,” said Msadala.
He added that the suspect will appear before court soon to answer the charge of murder after police wind up investigation.
Police in Mponela have since advised all people to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
