The blind guy who is accused of hitting his wife with a pounding stick after she came home late at night has been brought before the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court.
Daniel Mwitumwa is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm, and Magistrate Crispin Hampungani deemed him to have a case to answer and put him on his defense.
According to the allegations, Judith Lungu was physically harmed on February 5, 2024, by Mwitumwa, a resident of Lusaka’s Balmoral neighborhood.
The state called a number of witnesses, including the arresting officer, Anastasia Junza, of the Balmoral Police Station, after the accused refuted the allegations.
Around 1:00 a.m. on the relevant day, Ms. Junza reported receiving a claim of an assault from Ms. Mwanza, a 55-year-old woman.
She claimed she had been beaten with a pounding stick by her husband, Daniel Mwitumwa, and that she had gotten a large cut on her head as a result.
According to the officer, took place in their residential area on February 5, 2024, at around 22:00.
Ms. Junza said that she launched investigations that resulted in the accused’s apprehension.
I wasn’t satisfied with the response he provided. I decided to charge him and take him into custody for the offense.
He offered me a free and voluntary response in sign language, refuting the accusation, after I gave him a warning and cautionary remark, she added.
The one-meter pounding rod that was reportedly used in the alleged assault can be identified, according to the officer.
Defense attorney Douglas Njolomba asked the police officer under cross-examination if she had attempted to make the two parties reconcile as the law permits it; the officer said that she had, but the victim was unwilling.
When the officer was asked if she knew the victim drank alcohol, she answered no.
“Did you ask if she drank beer?” Inquiring, Mr. Njolomba heard Ms. Junza confirm that she drank and that Ms. Mwanza had informed her of this.
When the officer responded no, the lawyer questioned, “So, you wanted to mislead the court that you are not aware that she drinks beer?”
“You wouldn’t know whether a blind person can see and pick a pounding see?” the attorney questioned, to which the accused replied in the negative.
