‘My gun was fired,’ Nurse tells court of Shikapwasha’s last words

The High Court has heard further medical and forensic evidence in the murder trial involving the late retired Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, with a nurse telling the court what the former Zambia Air Force commander said shortly after he was brought to hospital following a shooting.

A forensic analyst also testified on DNA findings from items recovered at the scene.

Testifying before High Court Judge Conceptor Zulu, Sergeant Mutinta Muleya, a nurse who was on duty in the emergency department at Maina Soko Military Medical Centre on January 14, 2024, recalled attending to the retired general after he was brought to the facility at about 1700 hours.

Muleya told the court that Lieutenant General Shikapwasha appeared restless and was holding his abdomen with a white towel when he arrived.

She testified that his vital signs were within normal ranges upon assessment and that he identified himself as retired General Shikapwasha.

The court heard that while collecting blood samples, Muleya asked what had happened and, according to her testimony, he responded that his gun had fired.

She said she did not ask further questions because he was restless at the time.

The prosecution subsequently called forensic analyst Innocent Makasa, who testified on the results of DNA analysis conducted on several items recovered in connection with the case.

Makasa told the court that analysis of a white towel generated a single male DNA profile that matched a reference sample labelled male Shikapwasha.

He further testified that DNA profiles obtained from a white vest, blouse and carpet contained contributions from multiple individuals and were therefore reported as inconclusive.

The proceedings arise from a shooting incident at the Shikapwasha family residence in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, on January 14, 2024. Shikapwasha was subsequently taken to Maina Soko Military Medical Centre, where he died the following day.

His widow, Jane Lusengo, was subsequently charged with one count of murder contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. She pleaded not guilty and the matter was committed to the High Court for trial.

Since the trial began, the prosecution has presented evidence from witnesses covering different aspects of the circumstances surrounding Shikapwasha’s death.

Among those who have testified is the deceased’s daughter, Vanessa Shikapwasha, who gave evidence concerning events at the family residence immediately before and after the shooting.

Her testimony included her account of seeing Lusengo with the firearm shortly after hearing the gunshot and of assisting in taking her father to hospital.

The court also heard from Detective Inspector Jeff Sitali, a scenes-of-crime officer, who testified about his examination and photographic documentation of the residence.

He told the court about the condition of the scene when it was examined and the collection of various items for further forensic analysis.

Another witness, Prisca Banda Daka, a former secretary at the church founded by the deceased and a person who lived at the Shikapwasha residence, testified about events surrounding the shooting and conversations she had with members of the household afterwards.

Her evidence included what she was told about the circumstances immediately surrounding the incident.

The prosecution has also presented forensic ballistic evidence through Inspector Isaac Kalimanshila. He testified that the fatal gunshot was fired from close range and gave evidence concerning the firearm, the gunshot wound and ballistic traces identified on items recovered during the investigation.

The court was subsequently taken to the residence in Ibex Hill for a scene visit in connection with his evidence.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.