MALAWI : Bones of murdered albino to be tendered in court as exhibit

Police in Salima last week arrested 11 people in connection with the murder of 45-year-old Masina in Ntcheu in what has become a spate of killings of people with albinism in the country.

“I can confirm that the bones are now here in Ntcheu. They are eight in total and came here on Tuesday. These bones will form a major part of state evidence against the suspects,” said Gift Matewere, Ntcheu Police spokesperson.

He further said they are waiting for the commencement of a court hearing against the eleven suspects which is expected to start soon. The suspects will answer a charge of murder with an additional charge of being found in possession of human bodies, according to Matewere.

The suspects are on remand at Maula Prison in Lilongwe.

Malawi has been gripped with an increase in human right abuse against people with albinism through abductions, killings and grave robberies by individuals and criminal gangs.

A recent report by Amnesty International (AI), titled “We are not human to be hunted or sold” states that 18 people have been killed and at least five have been abducted and are still missing.

Fletcher Masina was attacked and killed on 24 May in his garden in Zintambira Village, T/A Chakhumbira in Ntcheu.  His body was later found a hundred metres from his garden with both legs and hands cut off.

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