A 26 -year-old Mozambican national sentenced to 65 years imprisonment for murder and attempted murder

A 26 -year-old Mozambican national has been sentenced to 65 years imprisonment with hard labour for three counts of murder.
This was after being convicted on three counts of murder and attempted murder contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Jose Antonio Goliad a peasant farmer from Makanga District murdered Ireen Banda and Tiwode Banda and further attempted kill Zenaida Phiri of Chagunda Village in Chadiza district on 11th November 2014.
The accused who, arrived in Zambia on 10th November went for a drinking spree of locally brewed illicit beer popularly known as Kachasu and differed with the trio over change.
The two women died of strangulation after the convict followed them in the bush as they were running away from him.
In mitigation John Phiri, a senior counsel from Legal Aid Board said the accused was more remorseful of what had transpired on the material day.
Passing Judgement, High Court Judge Mwila Chitabo said he had put into consideration what was in the mitigation by the defense counsel that there was extenuating circumstances which led the accused to commit the offences.
Mr Justice Chitabo however, sentenced the accused to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for attempted murder and 45 years for the two murders.