MULENGA MUSONDA writes
@SunZambian
THE Choma Magistrates Court has ordered for a medical mental checkup of a 30 year old man who assaulted his child with a cattle branding metal.
Appearing before Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri was Wesley Mwebo of Namwala district who stands charged with assaulting a child contrary to section 148 (a) Chapter 87 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that on June 26Mwebo assaulted his child who is below the age of 16with a metal cattle branding instrument thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
When the matter came up for plea, Mwebo who seemed not to be in good mental state, pleaded guilty to the charge.
“I hit my son with a metal but I don’t know that I assaulted him, I’ve been unwell for two years and I just go for prayers. After beating my child, I reported myself to the chief,” Mwebo explained.
Magistrate Phiri however entered a plea of not guilty, because Mwebo appeared not to be in his right frame of mind and ordered that he should undergo a mental checkup at Chainama Mental Health Facility.
The matter has since been adjourned to July 26 for mention and to receive a medical report.
