A lawyer for a suspect in the murder of Coca-Cola Company employee Allan Wittika has filed claims that the accused, Lester Maganga, was outside the country a few days before and after the victim was killed.
Called defense of alibi, Maganga claims that he travelled to the United States on official duties on the days Wittika was murdered.
Under criminal law, an alibi is a legal defense strategy where a defendant provides evidence they couldn’t have committed the crime because they were somewhere else when the crime occurred.
Through his lawyer Gonjetso Dikiya of Ritz Attorneys, Maganga said among others, several individuals can testify that he was not in the country, and there are bank transactions to confirm he accessed foreign currency for his US trip, air tickets, and phone call logs.
Further, the suspect said there is a travel agent, a visa processing officer at the US Embassy, a driver who took him to Chileka Airport, and other individuals he met at Bole International Airport on September 25 2023 in Ethiopia on his return flight, who are ready to testify.
Maganga is being accused of murdering Wittika whose body was found bundled in the rear seat of his official vehicle on September 20 2023 near his house in Area 15 in Lilongwe.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code and that of being found in possession of ammunition without a permit.
In January this year, High Court of Malawi Judge Mzondi Mvula ordered the State to arrange a psychiatric test for Maganga to undergo the test before the trial starts to avoid disruptions.
Maganga, who is personal assistant to Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, has been on remand at Maula Prison.
