Mukata opens his defence in the murder case of security guard
By Staff Reporter
Opposition UPND Chilanga member of parliament Keith Mukata yesterday opened his defence, claiming he is a law abiding citizen in the murder trial of a security guard early this year at his law firm, AKM Legal Practitioners.
Mukata, 46 of farm 691 Kasupe, Lusaka West in the company his girlfriend Chairmaine Musonda is alleged to have murdered Nakwambwa Kwenda 63, a man he described as very loyal and respectful.
In his defence, Mukata said he first met the deceased on the fateful day about 19:00 hours when he gave him K200.
Mukata submitted that Kwenda alerted him of some intruders twice well before the incidence that evening and immediately informed home affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo to solicit police protection.
He testified before court that minutes after the call to Kampyongo, he received a barrage of phone calls from a Mr. Mwangala, a legal assistant at AKM Legal Practitioners also insinuating an intrusion to the premises.
Mukata said soon after his conversations with Mwangala, he called Kampyongo again who assured of having radioed the C5, crime management unit of the Zambia Police.
Mukata told court that about midnight, Kwenda informed him how the gate to the premises was opened under peculiar circumstances after which he decided to leave for home in the company of Musonda.
He narrated how Kwenda was attacked by two strangers at the main gate as they were trying exit, a confirmation of a security concern raised earlier by the deceased.
Mukata said he immediately fired two warning shots in the air but the attackers fired back in retariation.
Mukata said at this point he witnessed Kwenda struggling to free himself from the grip of the intruders. Few minutes later, the guard told Mukata of being shot by the strangers.
He told the court of the attempt to take the guard to the hospital but proved futile because of the heavy weight of the deceased. After the shooting incident, Mukata said he again informed Kampyongo of the turn of events who still assured of police intervention.
He said after minutes of waiting some people who arrived at the scene were not of any help but looted his personal items, some of which are still missing but whose pictures were extensively shared on social media. He told the court that the first group of people that arrived at the scene also assorted him verbally until the arrival of police officers, Chilufya and Mubita Muya from Emmasdale police station who calmed down the situation at the crime scene.
He told court that the accused persons were detained at different police stations namely Emmasidale and Mandevu.
Mukata told the court that he was a Christian, law abiding citizen who could not commit such a crime.
He described the deceased as a friendly, respectful, sober minded old man loyal to duty for two years he was assigned at the firm.
In his continued defence, Mukata alleged unprofessional conduct of the forensic scientists and prosecution team for concealing valuable evidence before the court. He also noted the disparities in the baristic expert and pathological reports to which he claimed misrepresentation of facts before the court.
The matter which was scheduled to start at 09:00 hours only commenced around 10:00 hours in a session filled with moments of laughter as Mukata took the court to light breaks.
The matter has since been adjourned for 4th and 5th December 2017 for continued defence.
