Three Zimbabweans charged with murder

Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday January 12, 2016 11:48

 

The three; Farai Dube (25), Canious Ncube (19), and Pati Sibanda (25) and another suspect not before court allegedly murdered Tshepo Gabana at Ditladi village near Tonota last week.

The prosecutor, Sub-Inspector Kenneth Edward told the court that investigations into the matter are at their initial stages.

He said: “We are awaiting the results of the postmortem that was conducted on the deceased. The deceased’s next of kin are also yet to be informed about the incident. One of the suspects in the matter is also on the run,” he said when applying for the accused to be further remanded in custody.

Dube told Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi that he was not present when the incident occurred and that he only heard that a murder incident had occurred somewhere. Clutching a bandaged hand, he said the police shot him before they arrested him.

Last week Friday, the police released a press statement confirming that they had shot and killed a murder suspect.

Sibanda told the court that he followed the deceased to his place after he stole his cellphone.

“We found the deceased’s footprints at our place. We followed him to his place and when he saw us he put the phone inside the toilet.

We told him to retrieve it, but he did not manage to retrieve it.  He then admitted stealing my phone after we questioned him,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda added that he then confiscated Gabana’s radio and clothes and told him that he will only get them if he pays or brings back his cellphone.

The accused are due in court on January 25 for another mention.

In a separate matter, three men appeared in court for allegedly raping a mentally disabled person.

The accused; Refilwe Merafhe (21) Dikgakgamatso Babagore (21) and Meleko Kganetso (22) allegedly committed the offence at Tshwane cattlepost near Sowa Town on November 20 last year.

They pleaded not guilty and told Basupi that they will conduct their own defence in the matter.

Sub-Inspector Daniel Mothothusa told the court that investigations into the matter are complete adding that the police will call seven witnesses to testify against the accused. Trial dates in the matter will be set on January 25.

Meanwhile, Gerald police are investigating a case in which a middle-aged woman believed to be 25 and 30 years was found dead along Mphane stream between Borolong and Shashemooke villages.

Gerald police chief, Masego Mathitha told Mmegi that they received a report on the incident last Wednesday.