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Originally posted by: JRC
"Man gets 50-year sentence for murderEx-girlfriend stabbed to death in nursing home parking lotBy MARTI GOODLAD HELINETribune Staff Writer SOUTH BEND -- Family members of Yvonne Lee are still mourning the loss of the smiling nurse and mother of two, who was stabbed to death as she left work on a snowy January night. Billy Alete Chilambula, 26, was sentenced Tuesday to a 50-year prison term on his guilty plea to Lee's murder. St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Jerome Frese imposed a 60-year sentence but suspended 10 years of the term. Chilambula is to serve 10 years on probation after his release. Lee's mother and three brothers eloquently described the pain their family has felt since Jan. 27 and the emptiness in their lives without Yvonne. Lee, 35, of South Bend, was clearing snow off her car about 11 p.m. in the parking of Cardinal Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 1121 E. LaSalle Ave., when she was confronted by Chilambula, her former boyfriend. A witness saw her struggling with the man. Lee died from hemorrhaging after being stabbed in the throat. One of her brothers, Canneth Lee, who is a pastor, commented that Chilambula left Yvonne Lee's 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, "without the only real parent they knew" because he could not accept that his and Yvonne's relationship was over. Canneth Lee said his sister's loss had made him preach harder, pray harder and try to leads souls back to Jesus. He remembered how beautifully she sang in church the Sunday before she died, "Like she knew it was her last time." He said as a pastor he has forgiven Chilambula and hoped he finds God while in prison. The pastor asked the judge to serve justice to his family by sentencing Chilambula "to the fullest extent of the law." None of the family members who spoke expressed anger toward Chilambula, but they questioned why he did it. "I treated him like my son," wept Yvonne Lee's mother, Johnnie. Frese empathized with Lee's family in their loss and praised them for their strength and courage in attending Tuesday's hearing. Chilambula, formerly of Malawi in Africa, expressed remorse to the family for what he had done and said he had not intended to kill Lee. Defense attorney Neil Weisman asked for a lower sentence within the prescribed range. Murder carries a sentence of 45 to 65 years. The plea agreement limited the judge to a prison term of no more than 50 years. He could still impose a longer sentence, but anything more than 50 years has to be suspended. Chilambula was arrested by police the day after the stabbing at the Springfield, Mo., apartment of another former girlfriend. Before surrendering, he had stabbed himself several times in the throat. He underwent surgery and hospital treatment in Missouri for his injuries. Frese noted that Chilambula, also known as Gabriel Kambale, had a misdemeanor battery conviction in his record based on his guilty plea in a case from late last year. "I urge you to make as positive a life for others as you can in prison," Frese told Chilambula, suggesting it was a way for him to pay his debt. With credit for good behavior in prison, Chilambula could be released around 2029. Staff writer Marti Goodlad Heline: mheline@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6327"

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JRC thumbs up for the article this is what we want to know back home here but give more details on the article so that this can be posted to the media houses here in Malawi or alternatively send it to the following addresses: nation@nationmalawi.com or bnl@sdnp.org.mw . On the other hand if the Malawians living there are socially responsible in the communities(The roles you are taking to uplift the lives of the underprevelaged) you are living please send the articles and pics so that we can also see and at the sametime send them to the media. This will make us Malawians back home to be proud of you for the effort to take the name Malawi to greater heights. It could have been good if this article appeared on the front page of the malawiana.