Lusaka | January 23, 2026 – The state closed its case in the John Nundwe trial yesterday with a final witness whose testimony aimed to dismantle deep-seated societal myths about sexual assault victims. Dr. Naeem Dalal, a mental health specialist, provided the court with a scientific explanation for a victim’s potential lack of physical resistance, a point often scrutinised in such cases.

Dr. Dalal informed the court that the common assumption that a victim will always fight back is medically unfounded. He detailed the three instinctive, biological responses to extreme trauma: fight, flight, or freeze. His testimony focused extensively on the freeze response, describing a specific phenomenon known as tonic immobility. This involuntary state, he explained, is a primal survival mechanism where the body becomes paralyzed, essentially playing dead in the face of an overwhelming threat.

The psychiatrist further clarified that this frozen state can impact a victim’s memory of the traumatic event and may result in a lack of visible physical injury, which often contradicts public expectation. This expert context is considered crucial for the court’s understanding as it evaluates the evidence.

The prosecution, having presented ten witnesses since the trial began in July 2024, formally rested its case following this testimony. The matter is now adjourned for a pivotal ruling. The magistrate must determine if the state has presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, meaning whether the proof is strong enough to legally require John Nundwe to present a defence.

The National Prosecution Authority reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting gender-based violence with a modern understanding of victim trauma, combining factual evidence with expert psychological insight. The nation now awaits the court’s next decision, which will dictate whether the trial proceeds to a defence or concludes.

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