Man (25) gets get 7 years in jail for armed robbery

A 25-year-old man believed to be part of a gang of four men suspected to have stage several armed robberies around the city was handed a seven year jail sentence. Collen Murwira (25) of Pumula, who was facing four counts of armed robbery, only pleaded guilty to one count.

Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Godwin Sengweni suspended one year four five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

A further one year was suspended on condition that he pays restitution of R14 000 by 31 September this year.

Mr Goodluck Katenaire, for the state told the court that on 29 March 2009, Murirwa in the company of three accomplices went to a house in Sauerstown, belonging to a gold miner.

They knew him from their gold dealing business.

When they arrived at the complainant's house, two members of Murirwa's gang allegedly fired some shots before robbing the complainant of a number of cellphones, cash and some gold amalgam.

On 10 April the same year, Murwira and his accomplices were arrested in Magwegwe suburb after a call history had been retrieved from a cellphone service provider.

Mr Robert Ndlovu, of R Ndlovu and Company, represented Murirwa.