Bobe Murder Trial: Suspects’ Crime Reconstruction Video Played in Court as Detective Details Alleged Inside Help and Wall Drilling Operation

BLANTYRE — The High Court in Blantyre has heard dramatic details in the murder trial of seven men accused of killing renowned medical doctor , with a senior police detective telling the court that the attackers appeared to have carefully planned the operation and may have relied on inside information.

The seven accused Charles Chikapa, Maxwell Elia, Rafic Hassan, Santos Chamamba, Peter Chimenya, Issa Allie and Peter Mphepo have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, robbery and burglary.

The State continued presenting its evidence through Assistant Superintendent Christopher Pangeti, a regional detective officer for the Southwest Police Division.

Pangeti told the court that when investigators arrived at the scene where Dr Bobe was killed, they observed signs suggesting that the attackers were experienced criminals.

He said the person who fired the fatal shot appeared to have knowledge of firearms because investigators recovered a spent cartridge casing from the scene.

the crime scene.

According to Pangeti, the suspects also appeared to have deliberately abandoned mobile phones allegedly taken from the residence, suggesting they were aware the devices could assist police investigations.

Alleged planned entry through drilled wall

The court heard that the attackers gained access to the property by drilling through part of the perimeter wall.

Pangeti told the court that the crime reconstruction video played before the court showed the suspects explaining how the operation was carried out, including how the wall was breached to gain entry into the residence.

The detective said some of the accused claimed their role was mainly to drill through the wall, while others said they remained outside the gate to monitor the surroundings and prevent anyone from coming to assist.

Pangeti told the court that the different accounts given by the accused appeared to show that they were disputing their individual roles rather than denying that they went to the residence to commit a crime.

He further said the manner in which the operation was executed suggested that the attackers had prior knowledge of the property and knew where to gain entry.

The court heard that one of the suspects allegedly claimed he visited the area around 9am on the day of the incident to inspect the premises, while those who allegedly drilled through the wall said they started the operation after 8pm.

The Drilled wall

Pangeti told the court that investigators believe the security guard at the residence, Peter Mphepo, assisted the suspects by showing them the point where they could break through the wall.

Police investigation led to former prisoners

Pangeti told the court that after analysing the crime scene, investigators began looking into former prisoners known for committing similar offences.

The investigation led to the arrest of Rafic Hassan, who was found hiding around the BCA area.

The detective described Hassan as a cooperative suspect who allegedly told police: “Bwana, usaiwale, paja ine ndikapalamula sindimabisa” meaning that when he commits an offence, he does not hide information.

The court heard that Hassan allegedly disclosed details of another robbery at BCA where criminals stole K45.6 million.

Pangeti said Hassan assisted police in arresting Issa Allie, a driver at Proto Feeds, who later allegedly led investigators to Maxwell Elia, who was arrested in Goliati, Thyolo.

The court heard that during the BCA robbery, the suspects allegedly told police that Issa received K800,000, Elia K1.3 million and Hassan K1.7 million.

Pangeti said investigators found similarities between the BCA robbery and the attack at Dr Bobe’s residence, particularly the alleged involvement of someone who had knowledge of the inside of the premises.

A similar incident occurred at BCA a week before Bobe’s murder, where a group of seven to ten suspects allegedly drilled a hole and broke into a house before fleeing after homeowners alerted police.

Alleged inside information and CCTV failure

The court further heard that Charles Chikapa allegedly told police that he was informed by Peter Mphepo, who worked as a security guard at the residence, that Dr Bobe’s employers kept United States dollars at the house

Pangeti said investigators suspected inside assistance because the CCTV cameras at the residence were not functioning on the night of the robbery

The detective also told the court that Hassan allegedly revealed that the firearm used in the killing was hidden in Mozambique.

However, Pangeti said police did not attempt to recover the firearm because the location mentioned was believed to be in an area considered dangerous due to the presence of armed groups.

The court heard that Hassan had previously served as a police officer in Mozambique.

pangeti and behind him the suspect ex Mozambiquean police officer who is alleged to have pulled the trigger

Previous convictions

Pangeti also told the court that two of the accused, Charles Chikapa and Maxwell Elia, were arrested in connection with the murder, robbery and burglary at Dr Victoria Bobe’s residence.

The detective told the court that while the two were in police custody in relation to the Bobe case, some police officers recognised them as suspects linked to an earlier robbery involving two filling stations in Zomba.

The matter was subsequently investigated, and Chikapa and Elia were taken before court in connection with the Zomba robbery case, where they were convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment while they remained on remand in the Bobe murder case.

Pangeti told the court that the convictions in the Zomba case were separate from the charges they are currently facing in relation to Dr Bobe’s death.

Court watches reconstruction video

The court later moved into a theatre room where it watched the crime reconstruction video showing the accused allegedly explaining how the robbery was carried out at Dr Bobe’s residence.

During the video, the suspects were seen giving different accounts of their alleged roles.

Some allegedly said they only participated in drilling the wall, while others claimed they remained outside the gate to provide security.

Pangeti told the court that the video showed the suspects were not disputing that they went to the residence but were instead giving different explanations about who did what during the operation.

The State also requested that the court visit Dr Bobe’s house to observe physical evidence, including bullet holes on the door and the area where the wall was allegedly drilled.

However, Judge Ruth Chinangwa ruled that a visit to the residence was not necessary at this stage, saying the reconstruction video and other evidence would assist the court.

Justice Ruth fletcher chinangwa adjourned the case to allow the contents of the video to be transcribed.

The court later adjourned proceedings to allow the contents of the video to be transcribed so that the judge could carefully follow each suspect’s account.