ANOTHER marital dispute has ended in a loss of life, with the latest case being that of a Ndola man who is on the run after he allegedly beat up his wife to death.
Memory Chilele 41 of Kaloko Township was then rushed to the hospital a few days after her husband beat her up with a metal chair, but was later discharged.
However, her conditioned worsened and she was referred back to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police have now launched a manhunt for Joe Sikaona, her husband who is reportedly on the run.
Copperbelt Province commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said the incident occurred between July 15 last month around 21:00 hours and July 29 around 11:52 hours in Kaloko Township of Ndola.
He said the incident was reported by the aunt to the deceased, Gertrude Mutale who is a teacher.
“Brief facts of the matter are that on July 15, last month at about 21:00 hours, Precious Chabala who is the sister to the deceased heard noise in the next room where Joe Sikaona, the suspect was beating his wife. Precious then went out of her room so that she could rescue her sister, but it was in vain as the door was locked from inside,” he said.
Mr Mweemba explained that the matter was not reported to the police until on July 25, when the victim reported at Jacaranda Villa police Post where a medical report was issued.
He said on July 26 , the victim was taken to Ndola teaching Hospital where she was attended to ,but not admitted.
“On July 29, the condition got worse as the deceased was complaining of painful ribs and general body pains which was said to have been inflicted by a metal chair which used to hit the victim. The victim was then rushed to Masala clinic where she was referred to Ndola Teaching Hospital and upon arrival she was pronounced dead,” he said.
Mr Mweemba said a docket of murder has been opened based on the provisions of the law which guides the law enforcement agency to act under such a circumstance whenever a person dies within one year and one day following the incident.
“Police and the family to the deceased are making arrangements to have post-mortem conducted on the body of deceased so as to ascertain the actual cause of death. No arrest made yet, but efforts are been made to have the suspect arrested,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 3rd August, 2023)