By Mercy Matonga:
Lester Maganga, who is being accused of murdering Coca-Cola Company employee Allan Wittika, has cited alibi as part of his defence in the case.
Alibi is a legal term used to describe a plea of having been, at the time of the commission of a crime, elsewhere than at the place of commission
In court filings which The Daily Times has seen, Maganga says he travelled to the United States (US) on official duties on the dates Wittika was killed.
He says a number of individuals can attest to the fact that he was not in the country.
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Maganga also cites bank transactions to confirm he accessed foreign currency for his US trip and other documents such as air tickets.
The suspect further claims phone call logs from a mobile service company can further prove his absence from the country.
He also mentions a friend, who allegedly drove him to Chileka Airport on September 17 2023, a travel agent who he says sold him an air ticket and a visa processing officer at the US Embassy, as some of the people who can support his alibi claim.
The filings further mention other individuals Maganga claims to have met on September 25 2023 at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on his return flight.
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“Take notice that the defendant intends to enter the defence of alibi in respect of the charge of murder [levelled against the defendant by the State]…
“The defendant was not present in the Republic of Malawi a few days before and a few days after [September 17 2023 to September 25 2024] the date of the alleged murder of Allan Wittika…,” the submissions read.
Maganga’s lawyer Gonjetso Dikiya of Ritz Attorneys said he could not comment on the filings without his client’s approval.
“I need to get instructions from my client first,” Dikiya said.
The case is expected to return to court Tuesday.
Wittika’s body was found in his official vehicle at Lilongwe’s Area 15 residential estate on September 20 2023.
Maganga was later arrested in relation to the death.
