A suspect answering a charge of attempted murder Tuesday quizzed a senior official at the Lilongwe High Court over an affidavit supporting the State’s application to revoke his bail.
The suspect, Macdonald Kumwembe, who does not have a lawyer, is answering the charge of attempting to murder former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
Senior Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court, Justus Kishindo, had to answer some questions from Kumwembe over the issues that he had raised in an affidavit, in support of the State’s application.
The State is applying to the court to revoke Kumwembe’s bail for being suspected to be a threat to judge Michael Mtambo’s life.
He asked why Kishindo had asked Mtambo to return to the court, one day after he had adjourned the attempted murder case.
Kishindo explained that it was following advice from authorities, who “for national security” he could not provide their names.
When Kumwembe asked further who asked for the judge’s protection, Kishindo said: “My office asked for the judge’s protection.”
The first to be cross-examined was Dziko Malunda a prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Kumwembe also cross-examined Elvis Kafotokoza, an administrator of Civil and Criminal registries at the High Court in Lilongwe.
Throughout the cross-examination, Kumwembe looked composed though at times, he repeatedly asked the judge for guidance if he was going off-track.
Kumwembe, wh o i s currently serving a four-month jail term after being found guilty of contempt of court, has since indicated that he will cross-examine the fourth person, a Mr. Mdeza from Malawi Police Service.
He said that after DPP, Mary Kachale, asked him if he felt it was still important to cross-examine the police officer.
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