A MAN of Matero township has been convicted by the Lusaka High Court for causing the death of a suspected gasser earlier this year after he joined a crowd in beating the deceased.

Christopher Sheleni, 25, was convicted by Lusaka High Court judge Mwila Kombe yesterday after he pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter.

Sheleni was in this matter alleged to have caused the death of Emmanuel Maibwe.

When the matter came up yesterday before Justice Kombe, Sheleni pleaded guilty.

Facts in this matter are that on February 16, this year, Sheleni was at his house in Matero Township of Lusaka when he heard a crowd of people making noise outside.

Sheleni heard the crowd chanting that they had caught a person that was administering toxic substances in residential areas commonly called a gasser.

Sheleni went out of his house and found a mob had gathered near Hillside ground and had surrounded Maibwe, the deceased.

Persons in the crowd began beating the deceased with kicks and fists and he joined the lynching.

Around the same time, the police at Matero Police Station were alerted and arrived at the scene.

They fired warning shots in the air to disperse the crowd and apprehended Sheleni as he was fleeing the scene.

The deceased was rushed to Matero Level One hospital where he passed on as the results of the beatings.

After the facts were read to him, the accused admitted that they were true and correct.

Judge Kombe then convicted him.

In mitigation by his lawyer from legal aid Wina Vukovic, the convict said he was a first offender who had pleaded guilty to the offence, thereby not wasted the Court’s time and the State’s resources.

Sheleni said during the period he had been in incarceration, he has had ample time to reflect on his actions which contributed to a loss of his life.

He added that this fact will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Sheleni said he had a five year old girl whom he helps to support and also lived with his elderly grandmother and auntie.

“The convict is fairly young in age and still able to meaningfully contribute to the community. He is a father to a little girl aged five whom he helps to support. The convict is deeply remorseful of his action of joining in a mob that led to a loss of life. We therefore beg for the Court’s mercy and leniency to the convict who is deeply remorseful and regretful of the actions that took place on that fateful day,” the lawyer said.

Judge Kombe adjourned the matter to November 9, this year for sentencing.