Police Detain Suspected Hitman in Neno Murder Case; Husband Suspected of Paying for the Crime

Justin Kalimu Pofela, 26, has been detained by police in Neno on suspicion of killing his friend’s wife after being paid to do so by the husband.

Damalesi Harry, who was killed in December 2022 after divorcing her husband, was 23 years old at the time of her murder.

Neno police deputy spokesperson Rebecca Msoliza the hitman was detained on May 24th, 2023.

During the subsequent interrogation, he admitted to having been hired by the deceased’s spouse to commit the murder.

The two carried out their plan effectively, and to hide the crime, they planted a banana tree and buried her body in a neighboring bush.

The suspect was given a portion of the money. K8,000 out of the agreed K50,000.

A forensic clinical officer from Neno District Hospital performed a postmortem, which identified the cause of death as extensive bleeding from a neck knife cut.

Stainly Likupe, Pofela’s sidekick, is still at large.

The suspect is a native of Makanani Village, which is under Senior Chief Mlauli’s control within the area.