Man fined for causing death due to reckless driving

The magistrate court sitting in Mzuzu has fined Chawanangwa Mwale to pay a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand kwacha for causing death due to reckless driving.

The court through state prosecutor heard that on 8th August, 2022 Mwale was driving a vehicle registration number MZ1009 honda freed from Jenda to Embangweni where upon reaching Ephangweni he tried to overtake a vehicle Infront of him.

Due to overspeeding he failed to control the vehicle hitting a pedestrian to the far right Paul Phiri 74. He had four passengers on board who escaped unscaled.

Phiri was pronounced dead upon reaching Embangweni Mission Hospital. Priscilla Banda a medical doctor at the hospital said that the victim died due to several head injuries.

Oscar Banda an official from Northern region road traffice ruled out any mechanical faults as the cause of the accident.

However, state prosecutor prayed for a stiffer punishment for the offense due to the commonness of the crime to act as a deterrent to would be offenders.

In mitigation Mwale apologised to the victim’s family for the loss of life. He pleaded to the court for a lean punishment narrating that he is a first offender and that he provided a coffin and food for the funeral.

Paul hailed from Embangweni in Mzimba District.