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The Senior Resident Magistrate’s court in Chikwawa has convicted and fined Andrew Rietmann 26, a South African driver to pay fine of K600,000 for causing death by reckless driving.
The court heard through State Prosecutor Francis Nanchidwe that Reitmann on 24 October,2023 at Chikwawa primary school along Kapichira earth road hit a Pedestrian Kallen Magwira 10 of Mbenderana Village Traditional Authority Kasisi.
When appearing in court, Reitmann pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by reckless driving which is contrary to section 126(4) of Road Traffic Act.
In his submission Sub Inspector Nanchidwe asked court to give a stiff punishment to the driver observing that as a driver he must have observed rules and regulations on the road whereby he was not supposed to overspeed at school where learners have also a right to use the road.
In his mitigations, Reitmann asked court to consider him by not sending him to jail because he gave assistance during funeral ceremony and he further narrated that he had no intention to involve in that accident.
When passing sentence Senior Resident Magistrate Byson Masonga concurred with the state and sentenced the driver to pay K600,000 in default 30 months imprisonment with hard labour to deter other drivers from commiting the same offence,some of the money K500,000 will go to the beleaved family and K100,000 to the government.
In a similar development the same court has also convicted and fined Chifundo Kasekera 33, of Chiphere village Traditional Authority Kapelula in Kasungu to pay K600,000 for causing death by reckless driving that led to the death of a five year old child Promise Osman of Tiimbenawo Village Traditional Authority Chapananga in Chikwawa District on 16 November,2023.
When appearing in court, Kasekera pleaded guilty to the charge.
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