Three men accused of murdering a 63-year-old man in 2023 have been released after the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict them.

Joseph Edward Banda left his home in June 2023 to drink Kachasu beer in Kadzimete Village but never returned. His body was found the next morning in a maize field with multiple stab wounds. Police launched an investigation and arrested three suspects Josephy Gladwell Master, Yohane Petro, and Paul Francisco on suspicion of murder.

Despite denying the charges, the suspects were remanded at Ntchisi Prison while awaiting trial. Investigations placed them in the same area as the deceased but failed to provide direct evidence linking them to the crime.

During a visit by the Legal Aid Bureau, the men were granted legal representation. A key witness testified that she had seen Banda, apparently drunk, the night before his death and also noticed the suspects heading in the same direction. However, this evidence was deemed circumstantial.

In March 2025, the prosecution concluded that the case lacked enough proof for conviction and requested to discontinue it. The court accepted the motion, leading to the suspects’ release after nearly two years in prison.

Malawi Legal Aid Bureau