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Through a twist of fate an 82 year old octogenarian’s life tragically came to an end at the hands of the accused. The accused, a female then aged 34 had a history of epileptic seizures. The condition or chemical imbalances that can be induced as a result of the seizures culminated into the accused losing control of her mental faculties. She started by conversing inaudibly to unknown invisible persons. The family decided to seek spiritual intervention and took her to a prophet’s shrine. Her condition deteriorated prompting the accused to take to her heels with her mother in hot pursuit.... More
The accused person, Shepherd Chitsa then aged 20, strangled his 60 year old mother, Melania Matambura to death, in broad day light, in the midst of a heavy rain down pour, in their homestead at house number,1185, Hintonville, Chegutu. On that fateful day, of the 17th of January 2022, only accused and the deceased were at home, in a residence shared with the accused’s other two male siblings.
No one else witnessed what transpired apart from the accused and the deceased. Unfortunately the dead tell no tales. The deceased died and took her secrets to the grave. She was buried... More
The 3 accused were arraigned on the charge of murder the now deceased Elliot Chingava. It is the state case that all the 3 accused turned on to the now deceased and assaulted him with fists, open hands and booted feet. It is said accused Simbarashe disarmed Courage of the log and used it to repeatedly strike the now deceased all over the body causing him to fall down after which all the 3 accused fled from the scene. The state alleges that one patron Victor Chinono attended to the now deceased and proceeded to his home. However, it is... More
The accused is facing a charge of murder as defined in s 47(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [Chapter 9:23] (The Criminal Law Code). It is alleged that on 17 May 2022 and at Chaira Village, Chief Musarurwa, Masasa in Chivhu, he murdered one Gibson Mawire by assaulting him several times all over his body and throwing him into a well. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. More
The proceedings in this matter are not only marred by procedural irregularities but also involve issues of substantive law. This matter was referred to this court ostensibly for my views by the Gutu Resident Magistrate. This was after the accused was convicted of contravening section 189 as read with section 65 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] which is attempted rape. The accused had pleaded guilty to the charge and was duly convicted. However before sentence the Gutu Resident Magistrate, to her credit, had second thoughts on the propriety of the conviction and sought the... More
The accused is appearing before this court charged with the crime of murder as defined in s 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. It being alleged that on 9 August 2023 he unlawfully caused the death of Cabangani Tshuma referred to as the deceased by striking him with a wooden log once on the head intending to kill him or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause the death of the deceased and continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility. More
According to the pre-sentencing community service suitability assessment report filed of record, the accused and complainant were husband and wife. Their marriage ended on 23 October 2023 after but a month. It ended as a result of the act of domestic violence forming subject of these proceedings. It ended with the accused headed to prison, and complainant with a disfigured ear. The accused was arraigned at Marondera facing a charge of “physical abuse”. This being a contravention of section 4(1) as read with section 3 (1) of the Domestic Violence Act [ Chapter 5:16]. He was convicted on a plea... More
