Spokesperson for Mangochi Police Station  Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi  has identified the suspects as Maxon Mkandawire and Clement Thunyani.

According to Daudi, on January 3 this year, the suspects were  patrolling at Nsangati Area within the park and came across three men including M’bwana Paulo (deceased), who were producing timber.

She added that the three started fleeing the scene a development that prompted the game rangers to ran after them and in the process of the chase, Paulo (deceased), who had a panga knife in his hand, aggressively charged towards the second suspect, and a fight broke out between the two. This was happening when two other accomplices to Paulo continued running away from the rangers.

Daudi added that when Paulo (deceased) and the second suspect were wrestling on the ground, the first suspect picked a big stick, and hit Paulo in the head who became unconscious while blood was oozing heavily from the deep cut he sustained.

“When police visited the scene after receipt of the information, they found the suspects giving first aid treatment to Paulo (deceased), he was then rushed to Mangochi District Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival and postmortem conducted at the same hospital revealed that death was due to severe loss of blood”, added Daudi.

According to Daudi the suspects have been charged with murder which contravenes section 209 of the Penal Code. They will appear before court after the completion of investigations.

M’bwana Paulo (deceased) hailed from Jota Village, Traditional Authority Chowe in Mangochi District.

Maxon Mkandawire is 40 years old hails from Mponela village in Traditional Authority Wasambo in Karonga and Clement Thunyani is 36 of Maseso Village in Traditional Authority Mlumbe in Zomba District