Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Nkhata Bay on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 31-year-old man, Charles Chirwa to six years imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting his aunt.

The court heard that Chirwa was homeless after he had set his own house ablaze for no reason.

State prosecutor Andrew Singini further told the court that on a certain rainy day, Chirwa went to his aunt’s house to seek refuge and his aunt denied it, which angered him and he threw a brick at her.

Nkhata Bay Police Public Relations Officer, Kondwani James said the incident took place on June 25, 2023, adding that the victim incurred a permanent disfigurement on her right eye which was removed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre.

During court appearance, Chirwa denied the charge levelled against him prompting the state to parade three witnesses including a medical report that proved the matter.

Senior Resident Magistrate Mateo Chitha concurred with the state that the convict was supposed to handle the matter diligently since the victim raised him as a guardian.

He therefore sentenced Chirwa to six years imprisonment with hard labour effective from the date of his arrest.