News / Africa
Zimbabwean man up for murder in Botswana
01 Feb 2014 at 15:07hrs | Views
A Zimbabwean immigrant in Botswana appeared before Francistown magistrate, Dumisani Basupi last week Friday to answer to a single count of murder.
Innocent Nyoni (29) of Lower Gweru in Zimbabwe was not asked to plead to the charge of murder as the lower court does not have the jurisdiction to hear serious offences such as murder.
According to court papers, on January 21, 2014 near Selolwane ward at Tutume village in the central administrative district, Nyoni murdered 53-year-old Tshenolo Elias using a sharp object believed to be an axe.
Dressed in the same clothes he was wearing when he allegedly killed his victim, Nyoni did not show any emotions as he stood in the dock listening to the charge sheet read for him.
When making an application for Nyoni to be remanded in custody, Prosecutor Phapidzo Kuda said: "Before the court is a suspect of a serious offense in the nature of murder.
He is also a Zimbabwean national who entered into the country through illegal means.
He does not have proper traveling documents in the form of a passport so releasing him on bail at this juncture would jeopardize the ongoing police investigations. He is also a flight risk."
Kuda further said that apart from everything else, prison would be the safest place that the accused person could be kept right now because relatives and family members of the deceased were still angry.
"The likelihood is that family members and relatives as well as friends might skin him alive," the court heard.
Given the opportunity to respond to the state's denial for bail, Nyoni told the court that he had nothing to say.
He was then remanded in custody until February 7 when he is scheduled yo appear in court again. Nyoni has no legal representation.
Innocent Nyoni (29) of Lower Gweru in Zimbabwe was not asked to plead to the charge of murder as the lower court does not have the jurisdiction to hear serious offences such as murder.
According to court papers, on January 21, 2014 near Selolwane ward at Tutume village in the central administrative district, Nyoni murdered 53-year-old Tshenolo Elias using a sharp object believed to be an axe.
Dressed in the same clothes he was wearing when he allegedly killed his victim, Nyoni did not show any emotions as he stood in the dock listening to the charge sheet read for him.
When making an application for Nyoni to be remanded in custody, Prosecutor Phapidzo Kuda said: "Before the court is a suspect of a serious offense in the nature of murder.
He is also a Zimbabwean national who entered into the country through illegal means.
He does not have proper traveling documents in the form of a passport so releasing him on bail at this juncture would jeopardize the ongoing police investigations. He is also a flight risk."
Kuda further said that apart from everything else, prison would be the safest place that the accused person could be kept right now because relatives and family members of the deceased were still angry.
"The likelihood is that family members and relatives as well as friends might skin him alive," the court heard.
Given the opportunity to respond to the state's denial for bail, Nyoni told the court that he had nothing to say.
He was then remanded in custody until February 7 when he is scheduled yo appear in court again. Nyoni has no legal representation.
Source - Voice
