A 25-YEAR-OLD police officer accused of murdering State prosecutor Nsama Nsama Chipyoka and UPND sympathiser Joseph Kaunda has denied the charges in the Lusaka High Court.
Constable Fanwell Nyundu of Matero Police Camp pleaded not guilty before Lusaka High Court judge Joshua Banda on Monday.
The matter comes up on November 10, 2021, for commencement of trial.
In this matter, Nyundu is facing two counts of murder.
In count one, it is alleged that on December 23, 2020, Nyundu murdered Nsama.
In count two, it is alleged that Nyundu, on the same date, murdered Kaunda.
Nsama and Kaunda were shot dead near Cabinet office as police officers dispersed UPND supporters who had gone to offer solidarity to President Hakainde Hichilema who was being questioned at police headquarters in Lusaka.
During that time, President Hichilema was being questioned over the purchase of a piece of land in Kalomo district belonging to late Samson Siatembo, which allegedly occurred in 2004.
Meanwhile, four people among them a 23-year-old woman, have denied murdering veterinarian, Dr Evans Mwengwe.
This is in a matter in which Kenani Jere, 23, a businessman of Lusaka’s Katondo area; Doris Ndumba, a 23-year-old Student of Luangwa; Keegan Zulu, 38, a businessman of Chalala area; and Josat Tembo, 42, a Mechanic of new Chilenje are charged with one count of murder and another count of aggravated robbery.
In the first count, it is alleged that the four between June 10 and 12, 2021 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together murdered Evans Mwape Mwengwe.
In the second count, they are alleged to have on the said dates stolen an Infinix phone valued at K5,000, a Macbook laptop valued at K23,800, two bags of Maize valued at K300, and a Mercedes Benz ML320 registration number BAB 2838 valued at US$14,500, property of Evans Mwape Mwengwe.
It is alleged that immediately before or after such stealing, the four did use or threatened to use actual violence on Dr Mwengwe in order to obtain, retain, prevent or overcome resistance of the items being stolen or retained.
It is alleged that Dr Mwengwe offered a lift to the four suspects from Bimas in Kabwe but his body was later found with severe burns on the upper part and partially on the thighs.
When the matter came up before judge Banda, the four told the court that they understood the charges after they were read to them.
They, however, pleaded not guilty.
The matter comes up on November 9, 2021 for commencement of trial.
