Chipawo has ordered that the trio, Diana Bhagwanji, 23, Timothy Mtilisanje, 28, Gilbert Kamaliza, 29, stay on remand and return to her court on 4^th February 2020.

Meantime, the state is expected to prepare paperwork to commit the matter to the High Court where murder cases are tried in Malawi. 

Chief Resident Magistrate Chipawo has  given state 14 working days for the task.

The three have been remanded on Tuesday 21st January 2020 on charges of murder.

“The state through Prosecutor Inspector Griffin Luhanga pleaded with the court to give them a one-month period but defense asked for only a week,” said Lilongwe police spokesperson Sub Inspector Joseph Kachikho in a statement later.

The three suspects are being represented by lawyers; Charles Mhone, Manuel Theu and Kwima Nchizi.

Police suspect that Kottana Chidyaonga died of poisoning after a postmortem by pathologist, Charles Dzamalala, concluded as such.

Chidyaonga 23, died suddenly on 4th January this year. The first suspected cause of her death was snake bite poisoning while she visited a friend in Lilongwe.

But after medical investigations on the cause of the death, it was reported that she died due to acute poisoning from a pesticide called commonly known as Termick.

In his report, Dr. Dzamalala argued that the version that death was due to a snakebite lacked evidence as the wound on the deceased did not classify expected features.

One of the suspects Mtilisanje, reportedly had an affair with Kottana whereas Kamaliza and Bhangwanji were mere friends.

The autopsy by Dr. Dzamalala has sparked huge public interest discussion and debate as to what exactly may have happen to claim the life of Kottana.