In a surprising turn of events at the High Court in Chitipa, 20-year-old Mphatso Kaonga, originally charged with manslaughter, has been discharged during sentencing.
Arrested at the age of 18 for the alleged killing of her 21-month-old daughter, Mphatso pleaded guilty during the trial.
Represented by the Legal Aid Bureau throughout the proceedings due to financial constraints, Mphatso revealed in an affidavit that her mental health issues, stemming from childhood cerebral malaria, contributed to the tragic incident.
The court considered mitigating factors, including her young age, first-time offender status, and cooperation with authorities.
Although the judge acknowledged the severity of the crime, he cited more mitigating than aggravating factors. While considering a reformatory order, the judge deemed Mphatso too old for such measures.
After spending three years in prison, the court discharged her on the condition of maintaining a clean record for the next 12 months.
