Lecturer fined for killing pedestrian
Published On February 5, 2014 » 3239 Views» By Administrator Times » Latest News, Stories
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By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

A MULUNGUSHI University lecturer in Kabwe has been fined K5,000 after he was convicted for killing a pedestrian or face a nine-month jail term in default.

Kabwe High Court judge Elita Mwikisa questioned how police officers failed to charge the convict for driving a motor vehicle which was not insured.

This is in a case in which Kelvin Munsanje was facing once count of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of Act number 11, 2002 of the Roads and Road Traffic Act Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Munsanje on May 12, 2012 was driving a Toyota Alteeza, registration number ACR 799, near Mulungushi Textiles when he attempted to avoid hitting into a pothole and hit the deceased identified as Patricia Kamba and another person who were waiting to cross the road.

Ms Kamba died in hospital after three days.

When the case came up for taking of plea before Ms Justice Mwikisa, Munsanje pleaded guilty to the charge.

In mitigation through his lawyer, he pleaded to the court for leniency and not to send him to prison.

Ms Justice Mwikisa bemoaned the increased cases of people dying due to accidents as a result of reckless drivers who had no regard for other road users.

She further questioned why Munsanje was not slapped with another charge for driving a motor vehicle which was not insured.

She said the family that lost their loved one should have been compensated.

The court fined the convict K5,000 out of which K3,000 would go to the family and K2, 000 to the State.

Munsanje was ordered to pay the money by March 4, 2014.

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