Guard, 33, jailed for knifing boy, 10

Guard, 33, jailed for knifing boy, 10 

By Esther Chisola

A 33-YEAR-OLD man of Lusaka’s Ng’ombe Compound has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for assaulting his neighbour’s 10-year-old son with a knife.

Lusaka magistrate Mutinta Mwenya convicted Christopher Chitangala, a security guard, after he pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a child.

According to facts read before the court by the prosecution, Chitangala lured the boy into his house, where he slammed him against a wall and then injured both his legs with a knife.

“On April 22, 2025 around 12:00 hours, the child was home when the accused called him to his house and when he reached there, he was asked to buy sausage for K10 within Ng’ombe Township and he bought and returned the sausage. Accused asked the boy to take sausage in the house. The accused followed the child and closed the door,” read the facts

“The accused asked the child if he knew how it felt when someone is about to die. The victim said he did not know. The boy was scared. He saw two knives under the bed.”

The minor victim sustained multiple injuries as a result of the attack with 35 stitches.

“The accused started beating the child by hitting the head against the wall. The boy held on to the mattress and saw the knives accused later used to cut the victim on both legs. When accused saw blood coming from the victim’s legs, the accused ran away. The child was rescued by a child. He was cut in the head, thighs and hands. Thirty-five stitches were sewn,” read the facts.

In mitigation, Chitangala  pleaded for leniency, saying he assaulted the child to discipline him after he allegedly stole his phone and portable radio.

“I am a student. I am asking for leniency. I have learned never to take the law into my own hands. When someone has stolen, I should not take the law into my own hands,” he said.

However, the court noted that the child suffered serious injuries which amounted to actual bodily harm and handed down a five-year custodial sentence.

“I note that this offence carries a minimum mandatory sentence. I note the veracity and seriousness of the injuries. I will impose the minimum mandatory sentence under the law for assault on a child of five years starting today. You can appeal within 14 days,” Mwenya said.