Lilian Burton
Lilian Burton was a white settler who was killed by UNIP activists who were demonstrating against the colonial regime on Chifubu Road in Ndola. [1] This was during the Cha Cha Cha Uprising in 1960.[2]
Death
On 8 May 1960, Lillian Burton was driving her daughters home when she was forced to stop by a mob. The windows of her car were smashed and petrol splashed over her and ignited. Her spaniel was burnt alive but Mrs Burton and her daughters, aged 12 and 5, escaped from the car to be brutally assaulted. They were found by a Forest Ranger and taken to Ndola Hospital where she later died of the burns. She passed away at about 3am on 16 May 1960.[3]
Investigations and arrest
The officer leading the investigation recorded, "Never during my twenty-seven years police career in Africa have I experienced such profound fear as prevailed in witnesses' minds during this investigation". One witness was found in Southern Rhodesia and an aircraft of the Police Reserve Flight used to intercept a bus on the Tanganyika border. 22 witnesses with their families were housed under police guard. 400 statements were recorded and cross checked. At 3am on 28 May, fourteen suspects were arrested in a concerted operation. Identification parades were held at which the witnesses were hooded. Disproving an alibi required a visit to the Congo and the co-operation of the Katanga Police. Four men were charged with murder. For the re-assurance of witnesses the Preliminary Inquiry was adjourned to Solwezi 300 miles away, requiring a major logistic and security operation. On 17 August the trial opened at Ndola before Mr Justice Somerhough and four assessors. All four accused were legally represented. On 26 September after 11,605 pages of evidence had been recorded from 61 witnesses, Prosecuting Counsel had to withdraw through illness. Before he could be replaced, Mr Justice Somerhough died. A new trial opened on 8 November. Due to the situation in the Congo the attendance of five witnesses from Katanga could not be secured but statutory provisions enabled their evidence recorded at the aborted trial to be placed before the Court. All four accused were convicted. In July 1961 their appeals to The Federal Supreme Court were dismissed. Their petitions to Appeal to The Privy Council were rejected and they were hanged on November 27, 1961.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Zambian Eye, HEROES AND UNITY DAYS: BUT NO HEROES, NO UNITY!, 1 July 2013
- ↑ The Killing of Lilian Margaret Burton and Black and White Nationalisms in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) in the 1960s by Walima T. Kalusaa, pages 63-77
- ↑ The Burton Atrocity by DM Brockwel
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Museums: more than just a collection of dusty old bones by Andrew Mulenga, 17 June 2011
