Witness testifies in girl abduction case

A witness has narrated in the Lusaka Magistrate Court how a 23 year old man, who allegedly abducted a named small girl, was found sleeping with her under the flowers near a farm in Zingalume area.

Maxwell Nyirenda ,65, a guard at Twikatane Farm Products near Zingalume, told the court that he was patrolling the premises on July 5, 2014 around 09:30 hours when he saw a blanket under the flowers.

Mr. Nyirenda said he picked the blanket and found a young man sleeping with a little girl.

This is in a case where John Malaya, a Zingalume resident, is charged with abduction of a girl under the age of 16 years contrary to section 136 of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

It alleged that Malaya on unknown dates but between July 4, 2014 and July 5, 2014 unlawfully took a girl under the age of 16 years out of the custody of her mother having the lawful care of her and against the will of such a mother.

The witness said when he asked Malaya about what he was doing under the flowers with the girl, he failed to give a satisfactory answer but only responded that it was his sister’s daughter.

Mr. Nyirenda further testified that he asked Malaya for the contact number of the girl’s mother.

He said when he dialed the number, it went to a wrong person who responded that she was in Chongwe and did not know Malaya or the girl in question.

He said the accused and the baby were later taken to Mwembeshi Police station where the matter was reported.

And when the accused was asked by Magistrate Kambafwile Muntanga to cross-examine the witness, he responded that he did not have any questions to ask.

The matter has since been adjourned to October 20, 2014 for continued trial.