A 17-year-old juvenile accused of stabbing his friend to death with a bottle at JCS bar in Longacres, has told the Lusaka High Court that he does not remember what happened on that day as he blacked out, twice, after taking a mixture of Castle Lite and Vodka.

This was after Lusaka High Court Judge Anessie Banda-Bobo found the juvenile with a case to answer and put him on his defence.

In this matter, the 17-year-old juvenile of Kalingalinga, who is a grade 11 pupil, is charged with murder.

Particulars of the offence allege that on April 6, this year, in Lusaka, the the 17-year-old juvenile murdered one Sebastian Lungu aged 20.

The 17-year-old was initially jointly charged with a 16-year-old juvenile who was released through a nolle prosequi.

When the matter came up for ruling on case to answer, Monday, justice Banda-Bobo found the juvenile offender with a case to answer and put him on his defence.

Opening his defence, the juvenile offender said on the material day, he went to JCS bar with his two friends, adding that while at the bar, they were joined by four more friends.

The 17-year-old said he and his friends bought two six packs of castle lite, a bottle of 18-18 Vodka and a bottle of Nikolai.

He said he began to take some Castle Lite but his friends convinced him to mix it with Vodka.

The grade 11 pupil said at this point, his other friends, Lungu (the deceased) and Michael Halubala joined the crew.

He said, “after that, we started dancing with Sebastian Lungu because we were once dance partners at Street culture Zambia.”

The juvenile offender told the court that he continued to take Castle Lite and Vodka mixture until he blacked out only to be awakened by a fight between the deceased and his friend (the 16-year-old juvenile who was released through a nolle).

He claimed that he didn’t remember what happened on the material day as he just found himself at the police station.

“At this point, I was not strong enough to do anything and I again blacked out. After some minutes, my friends came to wake me up and helped me walk to the exit so that I can go home. I don’t remember what happened. I just found myself at the police station,” the juvenile offender said.

Asked by Senior State Advocate Bob Mwewa in cross examination if he started a fight with Lungu, the juvenile offender said yes.

And asked if after the fight, the victim later died, the 17-year-old said yes.

The matter comes up on November 20 this year, for judgement.