Accused in Muleya murder trial reportedly collapses in court under unclear circumstance

Court proceedings in the murder case involving Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General, Guntila Muleya, took a dramatic turn Friday morning when one of the accused persons, Samuel Dokowe, collapsed in the dock.

Dokowe, who is the third accused in the matter, reportedly lost consciousness just as he stood alongside his co-accused to take plea before the High Court in Lusaka.

Police officers quickly moved in to assist him out of the courtroom as panic briefly swept through the court gallery.

Read more: Trial of suspects in IBA boss, Muleya’s murder case stalled as accused reportedly falls ill

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear, but court officials confirmed that Dokowe was receiving urgent medical attention.

Trial judge, Vincent Siloka, ordered that the matter be stood down to allow for medical assessment and ensure the accused was fit to proceed.

Dokowe is jointly charged with three others in connection with the murder of Guntila Muleya, whose death shocked the media and broadcasting community last year.

When the matter resumed, defence lawyer Chawezi Ngoma informed the court that his client, Samuel, had been taken to the holding cells, where a medical practitioner conducted a preliminary examination.

The assessment revealed that Samuel required urgent medical attention.

“We ask for an adjournment to allow the accused to receive the necessary medical care,” Ngoma submitted.

State advocate Gertrude Mwiinga Muhambi did not object to the request, stating: “This is a matter of health—it could very well be an act of God.”

In his ruling, Judge Siloka said: “I have heard the application and the response from the State. The court will adjourn this matter to April 14. It is my hope and prayer that on that date, the case will proceed. The accused remain in custody.”

Samuel, a systems engineer, is jointly charged with his brother, M’Thusani Baza Dokowe, 29, a police officer; Alex Caleb Zulu, also a police officer; and Francis Chipyoka, an accountant at the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

The case relates to the death of Muleya, who was found with two bullet wounds on July 24 last year.

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