The High Court sitting in Phalombe has sentenced a man and his wife to life and 25 years imprisonment, respectively, for taking part in the murder of their child with albinism.

Humphrey Elia, 29, and Mary Nankhuku, 43, were found guilty in April 2019 of murdering 12-year-old Joseph Kachingwe.

Phalombe Police spokesperson, Innocent Moses, said the court heard that the couple, during last year’s Independence Day celebrations on July 6 at Kotamu Trading Centre in the district, offered Kachingwe for sale.

“The court then learnt that, at the time, Elia followed his step-son, who was out with his friends at some grocery shop, where he offered the boy a poisoned drink. He was taken to a graveyard within the area where he was murdered by Elia and other accomplices,” he said.

Moses said the couple, which was sentenced on Friday, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Passing his sentence, High Court Judge Justice Sylvester Kalembera said the couple was a threat to society and deserved a stiff penalty.

Kalembera slapped Elia and Nankhuku with life imprisonment and 25 years imprisonment with hard labour, respectively, to deter would-be-offenders.

The couple is from Lungazi Village, Traditional Authority Jenala, in Phalombe.