The court heard through Lilongwe Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Maggie Kayaka, that the incident occurred on July 23, 2023 at around 21:00 hours.

Kayaka said that the victim, Evelyn Ganizani, 26, is married to Gift Phiri (convict's boyfriend), since 2016.

In July this year the victim, wife to Phiri, temporarily left home to visit her parents where she spent some days.

While at her parents’ rumors reached her that her husband was spending nights with another woman right in their matrimonial home.

The victim decided to cut short her parents’ visit and returned home without notifying her husband.

She arrived during odd hours and found her husband in the company of the convict (Kankhosi).

A fight broke between the two women and the convict rushed and picked a boiling pot from the fire that had hot water and poured it on the victim's body, scalding her in the process.

Then the victim's husband (Phiri), who witnessed the incident is said to have advised the convict to quickly flee the scene.

Appearing in court, Kankhosi pleaded guilty to the charge of an “Act intended to Cause Grievous Harm” but she prayed for a lenient sentence before the magistrate.

But the State, through Prosecutor Kayaka asked the court to slap the convict with a deserving punishment saying that the victim is still nursing scald wounds as a result of the convict's actions despite her not being the rightful owner of the man.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda, concurred with the state, observing that the offence committed is serious in nature.

Nyirenda then went on to sentence Kankhosi to 20 months imprisonment with hard labour; in addition the convict must pay K100,000 as a compensation, and in default to serve a further one year jail term.

Kankhosi has since not yet paid the compensation.

The convict hails from Kandama Village, Traditional Authority Njewa in Lilongwe District.

*Inspector Hastings Chigalu*

*Lilongwe Police PRO*

*Cell: 0888359882/ 0999075827*

*Email: hastings.chigalu@police.gov.mw*