In a ruling delivered at the High Court, a former wife has been handed a significant prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her ex-husband, a case that initially began as a reported road accident.
The Sentence
The court found that Gentile played a central role in planning and executing the killing of her former husband, Habimana. High Court Judge Bruno Kalemba stated that the punishment reflects the seriousness of the crime.
“In this court finds that the convict actively participated in the death of the deceased. The punishment imposed is meant to reflect the seriousness of the crime,” Judge Kalemba said.
A second convict involved in the crime, Munyagavu Lafiki, has been handed a 35-year custodial sentence.
The Circumstances of the Death
-
Date of Death: October 17, 2022.
-
Initial Claim: The death was originally reported as a road accident near the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in Kanengo, Lilongwe.
-
Actual Cause: The court dismissed the accident narrative. An autopsy concluded that Habimana died due to poisoning, specifically involving chlordane, alongside other internal complications.
Key Evidence
The court heard crucial testimony from the victim’s mother, Bellancilla Mukandori, who doubted the accident story after observing no visible injuries on her son’s body at the mortuary.
Further forensic evidence emerged through an autopsy conducted at Kamuzu Central Hospital by Senior Forensic Clinical Officer Dr. Andrew Master Mwale.
Impact on the Family
Judge Kalemba commiserated with the couple’s children but reiterated that justice must be served. The judgement leaves the children without parental care.
“It is unfortunate that the children will grow up without [their parents],” the judge remarked.
