5 charged with murder; committal Jan 22
Blantyre Magistrate’s Court has set January 22 2016 as the date for committal proceedings hearing for five men connected to the possession of arms used to murder people during several robberies.
The date was set on January 6 when the five appeared before Blantyre chief resident magistrate Thomson Ligowe to be informed about reasons for their arrest.
The five are Dickson Magombe (36) from Chipwaila Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chikumbu in Mulanje; Andrew Machinjili (29) from Kampepuza Village, sub-T/A Phambala in Ntcheu; Dumisani Mvula (23) from Bango Village, T/A Kaluluma in Kasungu; Chipiliro Gombwa (38) from Kayera Village, T/A Nthache in Mwanza and Charles Burnett Kawelama (47) from Nyamero Village, T/A Kuntumanji in Zomba.
According to court records The Nation has seen under case number 14 of 2016 at the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court registry, the five face two counts of murder contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.
The five pleaded not guilty and are still in custody pending court proceedings.
Magombe was arrested on January 3 this year whereas Machinjili was already on remand at Chikwawa Prison on a robbery offence when it was alleged that he is connected to the two murders, according to the court records.
Mvula, Gombwa and Kawelama were arrested during the night of January 2 and, according to police, a pistol and a pump gun were recovered during their arrest which officers of the law described as police intelligence. n
