Supreme Court of Appeal Upholds Life in Prison Sentences

The Supreme Court of Appeal has today upheld sentences against 7 appellants who were convicted of Robbery and Murder and were sentenced to Life in Prison with hard labour for both counts.

The robbery and murder happened on 20th June 2021, at Mudi Township in Blantyre, where the appellants, being armed with dangerous weapons, stole various items and cash belonging to Amina Azizi Sunko and, to obtain the property stolen, used actual violence against Sunko, which caused her death. The appellants denied both counts, but after a full trial in the High Court of Malawi, were found guilty and sentenced to Life in Prison with hard labour for the offence of robbery with violence and Life in Prison with hard labour for the offence of murder.

The grounds of appeal were that the court erred in law in convicting the appellants of the offence of robbery when there was no evidence proving the alleged charge; there was no evidence proving the alleged murder offence; a post-mortem to prove the actual cause

of the death herein was not done; the Prosecution's cause was manifestly unreliable and had been discredited through the analysis; the sentence to life in prison for the offences of robbery with violence and murder is unconstitutional and manifestly excessive.

The appellants were seeking an order to quash and reverse their conviction, an order to acquit them on all counts in the charge and an order to set aside or reverse or vary the harsh and excessive sentences.

The Supreme Court found that the sentences of life imprisonment meted out against the 7 appellants were proportionate to the crimes which were committed and has therefore upheld the sentences against each of them.  The convictions and life imprisonment for the offences of Robbery with violence and Murder have hereby been confirmed.

Dated and Delivered on 4th December 2025

(Hon. Deputy Chief Justice L.P. Chikopa SC, Hon. F. Kapanda SC JA, Hon. H. Potani SC JA, Hon. J. Katsala SC JA, Hon. I. Chatha-Kamanga SC JA, Hon. M.C.C. Mkandawire SC JA, Hon. D. Madise SC JA, Hon. R. Mbvundula SC JA & Hon. D. nyaKaunda Kamanga SC JA)