Ruth Mbandu’s uncle freed

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SLAIN National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) student, Ruth Mbandu
SLAIN National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) student, Ruth Mbandu

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
SLAIN National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) student, Ruth Mbandu’s uncle, George Kalomo, touted as one of the prime suspects in the murder trial, has been released after the State entered a nolle prosequi in the Lusaka High Court.
Pastor Kalomo, who had been in detention for close to two years, walked to freedom yesterday.
Pastor Kalomo was arrested and charged for murder along with other suspects, Edward Siandima and Collins Sooma.
They were alleged to have murdered Ruth between July 13 and July 14 in 2012, an offence the suspects denied.
The brutal killing stirred public outcry, after Ruth, who was 19 years old, was found with her facial skin peeled off, her eyes and ears removed.
Her body was dumped near her home in Lusaka’s Emmasdale area.
Pastor Kalomo was yesterday discharged by the Lusaka High Court after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito entered a nolle prosequi.
When the matter came up for continued trial before Judge Chalwe Mchenga, the State informed the court that there was an application to have one of the accused, Pastor Kalomo discharged following the DPP’s decision to enter the nolle prosequi.
This entailed that the proceedings against Pator Kalomo had been discontinued, but Siandima and Sooma’s cases would continue.
Pastor Kalomo’s relatives, that included his wife, Hope, his mother Brenda and Ruth’s mother Victoria, were on hand, waiting for the final release of their relative by prison authorities.
Hope and Victoria said they were happy that God’s will had prevailed as pastor Kalomo had been released.
Siandima and Sooma would appear on May 12, this year for a trial within trial.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka High Court has set April 7, this year, as the day for hearing of incarcerated Lusaka musician Clifford Dimba alias General Kanene’s application to have his defilement conviction reviewed.
Dimba, 26, was last month convicted by Lusaka magistrate Rodgers Kaoma after he found him guilty of the offence.

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