Blantyre resident Yamikani Bobe, the widower of slain medical doctor Victoria Bobe, yesterday broke down in the High Court of Malawi as he narrated events of the night of November 17 2025.
Standing in the witness box as the murder trial of seven men accused of killing his wife continued, Yamikani testified for about two hours before proceedings were briefly adjourned after he broke down in tears.
He told the court that on the fateful night, Victoria, 33, who worked as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and a lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, woke him up after hearing footsteps outside their home in Chigumula, Blantyre. He said that upon checking in the living room, he found some windows open.
Yamikani said he attempted to shout for help, but one of the suspects, who was outside the house, pointed a gun at him.
He told the court that he rushed back to the bedroom where he and Victoria leaned against the door to stop the intruders from getting in. At that time, he added, Victoria had already sent a WhatsApp message to their neighbourhood security group requesting help.
“There was a moment of silence and then I heard a loud bang,” Yamikani said.
He said the gunshot fired from the corridor of the house pierced through the bedroom door, striking Victoria in the head.
Yamikani said the attackers then forced their way into the room, armed with pangas and demanded cash, including United States (US) dollars.
He further told the court that they had no money in the house and to save his life, he surrendered valuables, including his wife’s handbag, a laptop bag containing a MacBook and an NBS Bank point-of-sale machine.
Yamikani said one robber became impatient and suggested that he too be shot. He said at this point he led the group to the family’s vehicles parked outside to search for money and that when they found nothing, he offered to make an electronic transfer, but the suspects fled.
In court, he identified two of the accused, saying he recognised one by a bruised eye and the other by his body build after police later brought the suspects to his residence.
The seven accused, who are being represented by two lawyers, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, robbery and burglary.
The State’s second witness, retired police officer and neighbourhood watch leader Jimmy Kanyerere, testified that he responded after seeing Victoria’s WhatsApp distress message at about 11.34 pm.
He said that he left his house accompanied by two dogs, but encountered a group of men outside his gate.
Kanyerere said when he questioned the group, one responded to him in Chichewa: “Mufera za eni [Please mind your business or else you will be killed].”
He said that at this point he returned to his yard and observed the men through a hole in his gate. He later identified two of the accused after police took them back to the crime scene, recognising one by his height and build and another who shot in the air by his distinctive accent.
Kanyerere also told the court that stolen mobile phones were recovered the following morning near the Bobes’ residence.
Principal State advocate Abdul Limbe said the prosecution has lined up nine witnesses.
