Bosso fan murder: Dembare fans freed

Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa yesterday freed on $50 bail each, nine Dynamos fans accused of murdering a Highlanders supporter after last Saturday's game pitting the two teams at Barbourfields Stadium.

The magistrate blasted police for a shoddy job in investigating the matter. Msipa said this while delivering a bail ruling in the matter involving; Emmason Msipa, 44, Honest Makaza, 28, Onisimo Maphosa, 33, George Chapindura, 43 and Rodger Dietrechsen, 42, Nandi Nyoni, 31, Pretty Ndora, 27, Chama Misiwo, 29  and Margaret Mpofu, 23.

The accused through their lawyers Lawrence Chikwekwe, Tanaka Muganyi and Russell Dzete are denying murdering Thembinkosini Hloli, 23 of Sizinda.

Msipa heard the bail application after getting authority from the prosecutor general and granted the suspects $50 bail each before postponing the matter to September 5. Murder suspects seeking bail, are usually referred to the High Court.

"The police should be taught what to say when coming to court. What the police said during cross examination shows that they are not well versed with the law," Msipa said.

She was referring to the investigating officer Edward Majawa's averments that the suspects were likely going to interfere with State witnesses if released on bail.

Majawa claimed the accused were of no fixed abode, an aspect that was dismissed by the defence lawyers. He said the suspects were lodgers and were not fit for bail.

The magistrate expressed shock at Majawa's lack of depth of the law considering his 14 years in the police service.

She also said the manner in which the suspects had been apprehended was malicious.

Earlier on, Muganyi had raised the issue saying "the police used the scattergun approach".

"The police failed to properly do their job. What they have done is just to arrest and bring the suspects to court, yet the duty of the police is to investigate then arrest and not
the opposite," Msipa ruled.

The defence counsel notified the State of its intention to apply for a refusal of remand on the next court appearance as well as raising an exception to the murder charge.

Hloli, who was laid to rest on Thursday, was allegedly stabbed twice in the stomach at Renkini long distance bus terminus after he was reportedly chased down by a Toyota Noah carrying Dynamos supporters.

He was reportedly in the company of fellow Highlanders supporters accused of stoning the vehicle during the post-match violence that erupted after Dynamos won.

Post mortem examination by a government doctor revealed that Hloli died from haemorrhagic shock, stab wounds, assault and perforated left iliac vessel.