The High Court of Malawi backed the State’s application to visit the residence of former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) employee Agnes Katengeza, who was murdered in 2023, to appreciate some evidence tendered.
Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) director of criminal litigation Dzikondianthu Malunda said the State’s application followed testimony by its sixth witness, Rebecca Batison, who worked as the late Katengeza’s maid and recounted the events surrounding the victim’s disappearance on September 23 2023 and the discovery of her body the following day.
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He said the court found that Batison’s evidence would be better understood through a visit to the residence.
Presiding Judge Bruno Kalemba granted the application and said the visit would be made at a date to be communicated.
Hearing of the matter started on July 21 with the State parading three witnesses whose testimony focused on electronic gadgets and cosmetics belonging to Katengeza that were recovered in Blantyre and later linked to the accused.
Malunda said Batison told the court that on September 23 2023, first accused Amos Katengeza unusually instructed her to buy Irish potatoes despite having never sent her on such errands before. She said Agnes normally bought the potatoes herself.
She also told the court that when she left the house, Agnes’ Toyota Hilux and KIA SUV were both parked at the residence and recalled that Agnes had asked Amos to wash the Hilux because she intended to use it that day.
Batson said when she returned from the errand she only found the Hilux.
She further testified that before Agnes’ death, Amos had attempted to open a septic tank at the property but failed.
Agnes, a network administrator at RBM, was found dead in the boot of her car in Lilongwe on September 24 2023. Police subsequently arrested Amos and Egnat Katengeza, who are standing trial over her death.
