A KADOMA man, who killed his neighbour with an axe, was last week convicted of murder and slapped with a 20-year jail term despite his attempts to shift the blame on a tsikamutanda, whom he had earlier consulted.
BY GIFT NJIRISI
The convict, Wilson Mpakati from Village 6 under Headman Chaora in Kadoma, was incarcerated by High Court judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba after he killed Charu Chiki whom he accused of practicing witchcraft.
The court heard that on October 8, 2014, Mpakati consulted a faith healer about suspected evil spirits which were causing illnesses in his family and was advised that Chiki was responsible.
On the same day, the State heard, Mpakati visited Chiki’s home at around 7pm.
Mpakati then confronted Chiki, accusing him of witchcraft after which he struck him with an axe several times on the head before fleeing. Apparently when all this was happening, it was in full view of Chiki’s son, Josphat.
In his defence, Mpakati claimed that he got confused because of the rituals he had undergone with the faith healer, adding he was not aware of his actions.
“He (Mpakati), still under the confusion, visited the deceased’s homestead and only realised after the incident that he had killed him,” Mpakati’s lawyer said.
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Mpakati further said the faith healer removed a clay pot containing goblins from his property which was said to have been planted by Chiki.
“The faith healer removed a clay pot which had goblins from the accused’s (Mpakati) kraal which he said had been put by the now deceased and were determined to cause death in accused’s family,” the lawyer said.
Mpakati further said he was made to go through rituals which confused and caused him memory lapses.
Tapiwa Kasema appeared for the State.
