FOUR officers from the Anti-Robbery squad department have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of their colleague.
Detective Sergeants Marvin Manda, Waluka Chilombe, Jameson Lubaya, and Benny Siyakalundu are accused of murdering Constable Nason Simbeye in Mufulira district on October 23, 2020.
Ndola High Court Judge Dr Winnie Mwenda adjourned the case to next week for commencement of trial.
The officers are accused of killing Simbeye and subsequently disposing of his body at his residence.
Their arrest and charges followed an inquest conducted last year, during which findings by coroner Sharon Luhanga at the Mufulira Magistrate’s Court indicated that Simbeye was shot from the back while kneeling, refuting any possibility of suicide.
Coroner Luhanga also established that Simbeye was murdered at an unknown location before being transported to his home, where his body was later discovered.
Several witnesses testified to the absence of blood in the house and the lack of blood stains on Simbeye’s bed and beddings.
The presence of a gun from the Mufulira Central Police Anti-Robbery Department at the crime scene further implicated the officers, as there was no evidence that Constable Simbeye had taken a gun home on the fateful day.
The accused officers are set to face trial for the alleged crime next week.
(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 10th January, 2024)