High Court Judge Annabel Mtalimanja sitting in Lilongwe has sentenced 24-year old Mphaso Kalilani to life imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with his 7 year old niece.
The Court heard that he later murdered and stuffed her in a sack.
State prosecutors Senior Superintendent Louis Makiyi and Sub Inspector Mary Jonas told Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe that the convict committed the offense on 8 October 2023 in Area 25 in Lilongwe.
Michongwe committed the case to the High Court for sentencing.
According to the State, Kalilani travelled to Area 25, Lilongwe, from his home village Kavumbwa, Dowa, and invited the girl, identified as Valentina Major, from her parents’ house; she joined him along the path.
According to Central West Region Police Headquarters deputy public relations officer Sub Inspector Foster Benjamin, the convict lured the girl to accompany him to watch a football match.
“In the evening, he alone came to the house of the girl’s parents and failed to explain the whereabouts of the girl.
“Valentina, on the following day, was found murdered and stuffed in a sack in the nearby Chatata area, prompting Kalilani’s arrest for having sexual intercourse with a minor and abduction with intent to kill.
“In his trial, he denied the charges, forcing the State to parade four witnesses, particularly for the first count of having sexual intercourse with a minor,” he said
The State described Kalilani as heartless and a danger to the society worthy to be isolated from the very community.
The State went on to ask Michongwe to impose a a sentence which would exceed 21 years, a thing which prompted him to transfer the case to Judge Mtalimanja.
Mtalimanja nodded to the State’s submission in the lower court and sentenced Kalilani to life in prison for the first charge of having sexual intercourse with a minor.
Kalilani comes from Kavumbwa Village Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa District.
