Woman's Decision to Stay in Toxic Marriage Leads to Death, Earns Her 10-Year Jail Term
- A toxic marriage has ended in tragedy after a domestic fight led to the death of a Lusaka man at the hands of his wife and son
- Mildred Kasase, a senior government official, has been jailed for 10 years, while her son received a 3-year sentence
- The judge condemned the violence and urged those in abusive relationships to walk away before it's too late
A domestic dispute turned fatal has resulted in the imprisonment of a senior civil servant and her son, marking a tragic end to a marriage marred by violence and unresolved conflict.
Source: UGC
Mildred Kasase, 49, an assistant director at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing the death of her husband, Alex Zulu, in 2023.
For how long was Kasase's son jailed?
The sentencing was delivered earlier this week by High Court Judge Irene Mbewe, who also handed a three-year sentence with hard labour to Ms Kasase’s son, Madiba Alex Zulu.
Initially charged with murder, the duo’s charges were downgraded due to insufficient evidence of premeditated intent, Mwebantu reports.
Prosecutors revealed that the fatal altercation occurred after a domestic dispute escalated into physical violence at the couple’s home.
During the incident, Mr Zulu, said to have started the confrontation, was reportedly pinned down and struck with a trunk by Ms Kasase and her son.
He later fell down the stairs, suffering multiple injuries, including broken limbs and ribs.
Kasase's lawyer painted her as victim
Though he was initially buried, his body was later exhumed for a post-mortem, which confirmed he died from the severe injuries sustained during the assault.
A WhatsApp message sent by Madiba to his cousin, which surfaced during investigations, confirmed that he and his mother had attacked Mr Zulu in an attempt to defend her.
During sentencing, defence lawyer David Chakoleka pleaded for leniency, describing Ms Kasase as a victim of repeated domestic abuse who acted in the heat of the moment.
“She was subjected to physical abuse, not just on that day, but on several occasions before. She was not the aggressor,” he said.
Chakoleka also noted that the conviction meant Ms Kasase would lose her civil service job, further compounding her punishment.
Source: UGC
Why judge jailed Kasase's son
Madiba’s lawyer, Osbourne Ngoma, made a similar plea, arguing that the young man, in his early twenties, deserved a second chance to continue his education and contribute positively to society.
“The trauma of having caused his father’s death is a lifelong burden; that, in itself, is a form of punishment,” Ngoma said.
However, in her ruling, Judge Mbewe emphasised that violence should never be the solution to domestic disputes.
“If in a toxic relationship, you should have walked away,” she said. “This is an unnecessary loss of a precious life.”
The Judge highlighted the long-standing toxic nature of the marriage and underscored the importance of seeking help or separation before situations escalate into tragedy.
As the sentence was read, sobs filled the courtroom.
Relatives from both sides of the family wept openly, mourning not just the loss of life, but the heavy toll exacted on the family by the incident.
Wife arrested after visiting police station to report hubby
In an unrelated story, a 36-year-old Siaya wife was arrested for allegedly attacking and injuring his 47-year-old husband.
The woman identified as Sharon Achieng had presented herself to Bondo police station to file a case against her husband.
However, police officers turned the case against her when the accused husband came to the station with deep cuts and bleeding profusely.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
