Two Safe Guard Security Services employees Mtalison Damiano, 29, of Mabuka Village Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi and Hussein Alick, 28 from Chipango Village Traditional Authority Tambala in Dedza District have been sentenced to three years imprisonment after their dog mauled to death a 10-year girl at Crossroads in Lilongwe in July.
According to Central West Region Police Headquarters Deputy Public Relations Officer Inspector Foster Benjamin, prosecution officer for the region Senior Superintendent Louis Makiyi told the court that the convicts were in possession of the dog which had no muzzle when it got out of their hands and attacked the girl, Ellen Chawanda.
“The dog was immediately killed by the mob before the victim was taken to Bwaila District Hospital where she later died of her injuries,” Benjamin said.
The duo pleaded not guilty prompting the State to parade four witnesses to prove its case with prosecutor Makiyi asking the court to give the two a harsh custodial sentence, because their negligence had cost an innocent girl’s life while in mitigation, only Alick pleaded for leniency, indicating that he was caring for a frail-looking grandmother.
They were then sentenced to three years imprisonment each to deter others.
Chimwaza, however, said their conviction didn’t deter the victim’s relatives to seek compensation from the security company, stating they are free to do so if it pleased them.
