Former Justice Minister Raphael Kasambara on Tuesday told the High Court Judge Michael Mtambo before being handed down 13 years jail sentence that he regrets his conduct.
Kasambara said this when the High Court Judge rejected the plea during oral submission by his lawyer Modeccai Msiska, SC that the third accused in the shooting case of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo that he was remorseful.
Msiska went further by asking Judge Mtambo to slap the third accused a suspended sentence but the plea was rejected by the State led by Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale.
But in his response, Judge Mtambo trashed the claims, saying Kasambara showed no inference of remorse, apology, or regret.
“Can you provide me with evidence that the third accused (Kasambara) was remorseful? Again, between the State and defence, who is supposed to give evidence of remorse?” asked the judge.
Msiska asked the court to allow him consult the convict and after exchanging verbal notes with Kasambara, the lawyer told the court that the convict “regrets the events that led to the circumstances he is in today.
Dr. Michael Mtambo sentenced Kasambara to 13 years for conspiracy to murder Mphwiyo while his co-accused Dauka Manondo and McDonald Kumwembe to 15 years imprisonment for the first count of attempted murder and 11 years for the second count of conspiracy to murder.
The sentences will run consecutively meaning that in total Manondo and Kumwembe will serve 26 years imprisonment with hard labour.
