Four people among them two police officers have appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for allegedly murdering flight Sergeant Mark Choongwa a Zambia Air Force officer.

A female police officer identified as Veronica Lucy Shawa is among the accused persons who appeared for explanation of the charge of manslaughter before Lusaka Magistrate Nthandose Chabala.

On March 17 Sergeant Choongwa was murdered in police custody at Woodlands Police Station where he was detained.

Four inmates who include Joseph Phiri, Andrew Kaoma a police officer from Kamfinsa mobile unit,Felix Kalube and Martin Chanda were later arrested and charged for murder.

But the State has since dropped the murder charges and replaced it with manslaughter against a different set of accused persons.

Those appearing for manslaughter over Choongwa’s death are Shawa and Mike Kapale both of whom are police officers, Lyton Mwale a driver and James Ngulube an archives clerk who appeared as a police reserves on the charge sheet.

Records indicate that the four were arrested on June 20, 2017.

Shawa and the three other accused persons said they understood the charge when it was read to them.

Magistrate Chabala then told them that they would be required back in court on July 7 for another mention until the Director of Public Prosecutions issues instructions to commit them to the high court for trial.

June 28 has been set for ruling on the bail application made by lawyer Charlotte Mweemba in respect of Shawa.

The state did not object to the bail application.