16-Year-Old Suspect in Custody for Alleged Murder in Nkhotakota

NKHOTAKOTA, Malawi - Police are holding Mateyu Maxwell, 16, in custody for allegedly murdering Hefter Hezekiah, 14, at Patsunda Village in Nkhotakota district, writes Chisomo Chimenya.

On April 26, 2023, the two boys, along with four other children, went to Ndale River to swim.

The deceased refused to enter the water because he didn't know how to swim and stayed on the riverbank while his friends swam.

Sergeant Paul Malimwe, the public relations officer for Nkhotakota, said the suspect emerged from the water and grabbed Hezekiah, throwing him into the deep part of the river.

"Upon noticing that Hezekiah was not coming out of the deep waters, the suspect fled from the scene. The other children reported the matter to the villagers, who conducted a search and retrieved Hezekiah," Malimwe said.

Hezekiah was rushed to Alinafe Mission Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The postmortem results showed that his death was due to suffocation caused by drowning.

Mateyu, who is from Nthunduzi Village in Traditional Authority Kasakula in Ntchisi district, is expected to appear in court soon to face a murder charge.