A Balaka woman has made an emotional plea for mercy after her husband was jailed for five years for an attack that left her permanently without her left eye.
The dramatic moment came after the court convicted Blackson Godfrey, 27, a kabaza operator, for causing grievous harm to his wife Catherine George at Makoloje Village in Balaka.
Godfrey pleaded guilty to the offence after the court heard that he assaulted Catherine on 9 June 2026 following a domestic dispute.
The State told the court that the argument started when Catherine questioned her husband about where he had spent the previous night. The disagreement later turned violent, leaving her with a serious eye injury that forced doctors to remove the damaged eye.
The matter was reported to police after intervention from WORLEC, an organisation that supports women and girls’ rights. Catherine had initially not reported the assault.
During mitigation, Godfrey asked for a lighter sentence, saying he had family responsibilities and that his wife was pregnant with his child.
But State Prosecutor Inspector Rodrick Kamuona told the court that the permanent loss of Catherine’s eye required a tough punishment.
Second Grade Magistrate Peter Nkuzi sentenced Godfrey to five years imprisonment with hard labour, agreeing that the injury had caused irreversible damage.
Moments after the sentence was handed down, Catherine walked from the Public Gallery to the Bench in tears, asking the magistrate to have mercy on her husband. However, the court had already ended the proceedings.
Godfrey comes from Makoloje Village under Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka District.
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