Supreme Court of Zambia - 2024 May

8 judgments
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Results. 8 judgments found.

8 judgments
May 2024
Appeals dismissed: identification, recent possession and ballistic evidence sufficiently proved armed robberies.
  • Criminal law — identification evidence — single and multiple identifying witnesses — recent possession doctrine — recoveries and scene reconstruction — definition and proof of firearm under the Firearms Act — appellate interference with trial findings of fact.
21 May 2024
Whether denial or suspension of driving licences for deaf persons breaches constitutional rights to freedom of movement and non-discrimination.
  • Constitutional law — Road Traffic Act (ss.59,62,68) — Licensing and suspension of drivers with hearing impairment — Article 11 (protection of the law) — Article 22 (freedom of movement protects liberty to move, not means) — Article 23 (entrenched text did not expressly include disability) — Persons with Disabilities Act and UNCRPD as alternative remedies.
16 May 2024
Denial or suspension of driving licences for deaf persons did not, per se, violate Articles 11, 22 or 23 of the Constitution.
  • Constitutional law — Part III rights — protection of the law, freedom of movement and non-discrimination — scope of Articles 11, 22 and 23; Road Traffic Act — fitness to drive and public safety; Persons with Disabilities Act and UNCRPD — alternative remedies.
16 May 2024
The State successfully appealed: extenuation lacked evidential basis and the six-year sentence was quashed for mandatory death.
  • Criminal law — Murder — Extenuating circumstances must be evidence-based — Defence of property cannot be raised for first time at sentencing — Appellate power to quash and substitute sentence where substantial miscarriage of justice — Substitution of mandatory death despite sentence served.
16 May 2024
Conviction based solely on circumstantial coincidence and lack of identification was unsafe; appeal allowed and acquittal ordered.
  • Criminal law — circumstantial evidence — sufficiency of coincidence of injuries as incriminating link — identification parades — police dereliction of duty — reasonably possible defence creates reasonable doubt.
15 May 2024
Conviction overturned for reliance on uncorroborated interested witnesses and improperly admitted confession evidence.
  • Criminal law — murder; corroboration of interested witnesses; hearsay; caution over evidence of detained/suspect witness; admissibility of confessions — court must ask defence to object; ballistic evidence not conclusive.
14 May 2024
The Supreme Court held it may determine its own jurisdiction to grant leave to appeal and need not refer that question to the Constitutional Court.
  • Constitutional jurisdiction — Whether Supreme Court may grant leave to appeal to itself after Court of Appeal refusal — Article 131 interpretation — Article 128(2) referral to Constitutional Court — Mandona precedent.
8 May 2024
Termination by notice communicated via a group HR officer was valid; wrongful dismissal yields damages, not nullity, and entitlements lacked proof.
  • Employment law — validity of termination by notice communicated by parent-group official — master-and-servant relationship — wrongful termination is breach (damages) not nullity; delving behind termination requires evidence of improper motives; acting allowance and salary increase require clear proof or formal contract amendment.
6 May 2024