Cops hunt for suspected wife murderer
By NORMA SIAME –
POLICE in Mansa have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly murdered his 40-year-old wife for refusing to buy him a pack of cigarettes.
The man identified as Cephas Chanda, 45, attempted to disguise the death to make it appear as if it was suicide by tying the corpse to a 1.5 metre-high tree.
Northern Province Police chief Hudson Namachila who confirmed the death and arrest said the incident occurred on Friday.
“Police received a report at 07:20 hours from Miriam Katongo of Chimese Village in Mansa that her neighbour, Jennifer Chilufya, had been killed by her husband identified as Cephas Chanda, after a domestic dispute,” Mr Namachila said.
According to eye witnesses, Chanda asked his wife for money to buy cigarettes but she refused.
“The refusal led to a fight of fury till the wife fell down to the ground unconscious before dying later around 20:00 hours,” Mr Namachila said.
Chanda then chased the couple’s four children who were watching the fight, and then tied the body with a chitenge cloth around the neck to a small tree.
Police examination of the body injuries revealed that she was severely beaten to death.
The corpse was deposited in the Mansa General Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.