Man Arrested Over Murder of Uncle In Supposed Case of Mistaken Identity

A 35 year old man has been arrested for murder in relation to the death of his uncle on Friday morning. Kebby Chipili of Mombolo Village, Luapula Province, remains in police custody. 

Chipili claims to have been cultivating and believed he was being approached by a Hyena that he believed was about to attack. According to Chipili’s report to the police he then struck the creature repeatedly with his hoe and only recognised that it was a human being, who he then identified as his own uncle Blaston Chipasha, after he had died.

The accused then ran to the village and told a member of his family. The relative then reported the crime to the police who arrested Chipili.

The 67-year-old’s body was found at the scene with two deep slashes to his face and one to his neck made by the farmer’s hoe.

Mr Hamoonga, of the local police force, confirmed: “police visited the scene and picked up the body which was then deposited in Kazembe Rural Health Centre Mortuary awaiting post-mortem and burial.”

In spite of the seeming clarity of the case, police confirmed that investigations remain ongoing.