By YVONNE CHATE –
A YOUTH of Ndola has been sentenced to death for stabbing a woman to death over a bicycle.
Christopher Bulawayo, 21, of Masala Township was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging by Ndola High Court Judge, Jane Kabuka after finding him guilty of murder.
On September 29, last year, Bulawayo, killed Georgina Kapambwe by stabbing her in the chest where the knife was left stuck.
Bulawayo was in Chief Chiwala’s area in Masaiti and decided to go to a drinking place where Ms Kapambwe was relaxing.
In the afternoon on the fateful date, Ms Kapambwe left the house where beer was being sold and as she was on her way home, Bulawayo pursued her.
Gift Kaseba, owner of the house where beer was being sold, narrated in court that 20 minutes later, one of the residents in Chiwala area went calling for help that there was a woman who had been stabbed in the chest and that the knife was still lodged in the body.
Ms Kaseba said when she went to check what had happened, she observed that it
was actually Ms Kapambwe who had been stabbed in the chest.
The victim died on the spot.
Ms Kaseba discovered that Ms Kapambwe’s phone and bicycle were missing.
When leaving the drinking place, Ms Kapambwe rode her bicycle.
The matter was reported to the police.
Arresting officer, John Chikuni, testified that he received a murder report from Chief Chiwala’s area near Chiwala Technical Secondary School, in which Bulawayo was a suspect as he was spotted riding a bicycle which the deceased had used before she met her fate.
Mr Chikuni said he instituted an investigation and searched the house where Bulawayo was staying in Chiwala area.
Before the search could be conducted, he saw someone flee from the house which forced them to fire gun shots in the air.
He said after a search in Bulawayo’s room, police found a Samsung phone and a bicycle which belonged to Ms Kapambwe.
Mr Chikuni said with that evidence, he charged and arrested Bulawayo for aggravated robbery and murder.
Bulawayo in his evidence said on the material date he had gone to Chief Chiwala’s area to see his mother as he was keeping up with his father and step mother in Masala.
But when he reached his mother’s house, he did not find her, so he decided to go for a drink at Ms Kaseba’s residence.
After some time, Bulawayo left and went to his mother’s house. He said later in the night, his girlfriend called that his daughter in Chipulukusu was sick so he decided to go and see his daughter.
He told the Court that he had been married to the girlfriend for two years but they were on separation for a year.