By Jones Gadama
The High Court sitting in Chikwawa has acquitted Katayeni Letiasi, a farmer who had been accused of murdering a three-year-old child in Chikwawa.
The child had gone missing on July 15, 2016, while accompanying her parents and siblings to their garden, and was later found dead in a nearby river with a broken neck.
Letiasi, who was arrested on July 22, 2016, had been in custody for nearly two years before being released on bail on March 27, 2018.
During his trial, the State presented four witnesses in an attempt to prove that Letiasi was responsible for the child’s murder.
However, the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, which represented Letiasi, successfully challenged the State’s claims by demonstrating that other individuals had been present in the area on the day of the child’s disappearance.
The Bureau’s Senior Legal Aid Advocate, Tupalishe Mulwafu, argued that there was no concrete evidence linking Letiasi to the murder.
In its ruling, the High Court noted that there were no witnesses who had seen Letiasi with the child or committing the crime.
The court also observed that multiple individuals had been present in the garden on the day of the child’s disappearance, making it possible that any one of them could have been responsible for the murder.
Furthermore, the court noted that there was no direct evidence linking Letiasi to the crime.
The prosecution’s case had relied heavily on suspicion and circumstantial evidence, which the court deemed insufficient to prove Letiasi’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Letiasi’s acquittal has sparked mixed reactions in the community, with some expressing relief that justice has been served, while others have raised concerns about the safety of children in the area.
The case highlights the importance of ensuring that the rights of accused persons are protected, and that the prosecution presents credible evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In an interview, Advocate Mulwafu praised the court’s decision, saying that it demonstrated the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
“This case shows that our courts are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served,” she said.
Letiasi’s acquittal brings to an end a long and traumatic ordeal for him and his family.
While the community continues to grapple with the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, the court’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of presuming innocence until proven guilty.
