The Chisamba Magistrate court has sentenced a 23-year-old man to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Magistrate Litungi Litungi convicted Edward Mwansa of Chisumpa Village in Chief Chamuka’s Chiefdom in Chisamba district after…

The Chisamba Magistrate court has sentenced a 23-year-old man to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Magistrate Litungi Litungi convicted Edward Mwansa of Chisumpa Village in Chief Chamuka’s Chiefdom in Chisamba district after finding him guilty of assaulting 52-year-old Misheck Kapiya, despite his denial of the charge.

The court heard that on September 7, 2026, Mwansa assaulted Kapiya, who is from the same village, occasioning him actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code.

Three prosecution witnesses testified during trial, while a medical report detailing the victim’s injuries was also presented as evidence.

In delivering judgment, Magistrate Litungi said the complainant’s testimony was corroborated by another witness and supported by the medical report, leaving the court satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, Mwansa asked the court for leniency, saying he intended to return to school after dropping out in Grade Nine in 2022.

Magistrate Litungi said the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm attracts a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

He, however, noted that Mwansa was a first offender who deserved leniency.

“The maximum punishment for the offence you committed is five years imprisonment. However, you are a first offender who deserves leniency from this court,” Magistrate Litungi said.

The magistrate further described Mwansa’s conduct as inhuman, saying he could not go unpunished after assaulting the plaintiff and subsequently setting his house ablaze.

Mwansa was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labor, effective September 10, 2026, the date of his arrest.

During his unsworn defence, Mwansa denied assaulting Kapiya, claiming that it was the plaintiff who first grabbed him by the neck and hit him.

He told the court that he was returning home from a drinking spree at around 19:00 hours when he noticed someone following him.

Mwansa said the man grabbed him by the neck and strangled him before a fight broke out, adding that the plaintiff was later joined by a friend, forcing him to flee the scene.

“I was coming from drinking wine and heading home at around 19:00 hours when I noticed someone following me. He grabbed me by the neck and strangled me, saying he had caught an impala, referring to me,” Mwansa said.

Earlier, Kapiya told the court that he was walking home from his shop at around 19:00 hours when Mwansa struck him with an unknown object, causing him to fall to the ground.

He testified that Mwansa then climbed on top of him and squeezed his neck, forcing him to shout for help.

The court heard that Kapiya was rescued by James Muole.

As the two discussed whether to report the matter to Chipembi Police Post or to members of the Community Crime Prevention Unit, they noticed that Kapiya’s house was on fire.