Murder accused insists he was tortured by police to admit charge

A MAN accused of murdering FDD leader Edith Nawakwi’s stepdaughter, Hatambu Hambulo, has insisted that he was severely beaten by police to accept the charge.

Evaristo Mulundu is charged with murder and aggravated robbery contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Mulundu, on January 8, 2013, jointly with others, killed Hatambu.

Mulundu is in another count accused of stealing Hatambu’s motor vehicle, a Honda Fit registration number ALC 4598, a camera and two mobile phones, altogether valued at K46,000.00, the victim’s property, and allegedly used actual violence on her.
But he pleaded not guilty.

Testifying in a trial within a trial on Tuesday before Lusaka High Court judge Fulgence Chisanga, Mulundu, who spoke through an interpreter, insisted that he was innocent except that police officers tortured him so much that he was forced to admit an offence he never committed.

“Police officers beat me badly, I was in pain and so I was forced to confess that I murdered that person, I had wounds from the injuries sustained,” he said.

But recently, sergeant Joseph Chimuchembu, 38, of Lusaka Central Police, said it was not true that Mulundu was tortured while detained at the police station in 2013.

He said he was a witness to a warn and caution statement which was recorded in Bemba by detective inspector Mwila, adding that he translated it into English.

Judge Chisanga reserved ruling on the matter to December 23 as trial in the main matter continues.

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