MURDER accused Precious Longwe has denied shooting her husband Akakanda Litebele saying the gun fired on its own when she tried to grab it from the deceased during a brawl.

Opening defence today, January 25, 2016, the 30 year old former banker told Lusaka High Court judge Sharon Newa that her husband’s death was caused by an accident.

Longwe, who cried through her testimony, narrated that on the fateful night, she found her husband sleeping on the couch in the living room with a gun next to him.

She testified that a quarrel ensued with her husband after he called her parents late at night to inform them that she had gone out to drink with her friends.

Longwe said she was drunk and in a state of confusion after drinking Castle Lite and shots of Jameson whisky the whole night.

Longwe submitted that the two struggled for the firearm which accidentally went off twice; killing her husband.

She told the court that her husband was a violent man who had hit her with a metal bar

In closing her defence, Longwe asked the court to acquit her, insisting that her husband’s death was an accident.

Longwe is alleged to have shot dead Akakanda five times in the chest following a drinking spree in May last year.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge but judge Newa found her with a case to answer and placed her on her defence.

In her ruling delivered earlier this month, judge Newa observed that Longwe’s maid Theresa Kangwa as well as the brother to the deceased Lipimile, provided sufficient evidence to which the accused person needed to answer to.

Further, judge Newa ruled that the text messages exchanged between the couple showed that Longwe had malice aforethought when she allegedly killed her husband because she had earlier warned to deal with him.

Defence continues.