News / Local
Cop render colleague disabled by accidental discharging gun on her
05 Oct 2015 at 09:58hrs | Views
A POLICE officer based at Hillside Police Station who was shot by a colleague at work has been left with a permanent disability as her hand was left deformed and she moves with a slight limp.
Thabiso Moyo was the victim of the accident and she recently testified against her colleague , Melody Anna Marufu (35) of Mpopoma in Bulawayo in court.
Marufu represented by Costa Dube pleaded not guilty to negligent or reckless discharge of a firearm when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
Moyo told the court that Marufu held the gun which was on top of the counter twice before it discharged and hit her on the left hand and right side of the neck.
"I did not realize how I was shot, but she held the gun up and it discharge the bullet to me," Moyo said.
Dube said his client dispute that she pulled the trigger saying the gun just discharged on its own accidentally.
"I may not be aware of what happened unless if the fire arm can be taken for ballistic tests to ascertain if the trigger was pulled or not," Moyo replied.
Mushove asked Moyo to show the court the injuries she sustained as a result of the gun shot, and moving with a slight limp she unwrapped her left hand which appeared deformed and unable to hold anything. She also showed the court the scar on the right of her neck.
Another State witness a police officer, Charinya Charinya said Marufu entered the charge office carrying the gun and what he only knows is that it discharged while in her possession.
He also said it was not possible for any gun to discharge on its own and advised that the only solution to prove how it discharged was for it to be taken for forensic testing.
The court heard that on October 10 2013, Marufu was on duty at Hillside Police Station when she received a caliber Norinco pistol for safe keeping from Leonard Kanukai Changunda.
Changunda is a police officer who at the time of the offence was holding the rank of Assistant Inspector and had obtained the pistol from Roy Thabani Sibanda.
Marufu allegedly took the pistol for safekeeping while in the charge office.
She was instructed by Sergeant Noel Mutika to carry out safety precautions on the pistol before handing it over since it was cocked.
Marufu lifted the gun as instructed so as to clear it in the process squeezing the trigger and shot Moyo who was seated in the charge office.
He was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals while Marufu was arrested.
Thabiso Moyo was the victim of the accident and she recently testified against her colleague , Melody Anna Marufu (35) of Mpopoma in Bulawayo in court.
Marufu represented by Costa Dube pleaded not guilty to negligent or reckless discharge of a firearm when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
Moyo told the court that Marufu held the gun which was on top of the counter twice before it discharged and hit her on the left hand and right side of the neck.
"I did not realize how I was shot, but she held the gun up and it discharge the bullet to me," Moyo said.
Dube said his client dispute that she pulled the trigger saying the gun just discharged on its own accidentally.
"I may not be aware of what happened unless if the fire arm can be taken for ballistic tests to ascertain if the trigger was pulled or not," Moyo replied.
Mushove asked Moyo to show the court the injuries she sustained as a result of the gun shot, and moving with a slight limp she unwrapped her left hand which appeared deformed and unable to hold anything. She also showed the court the scar on the right of her neck.
He also said it was not possible for any gun to discharge on its own and advised that the only solution to prove how it discharged was for it to be taken for forensic testing.
The court heard that on October 10 2013, Marufu was on duty at Hillside Police Station when she received a caliber Norinco pistol for safe keeping from Leonard Kanukai Changunda.
Changunda is a police officer who at the time of the offence was holding the rank of Assistant Inspector and had obtained the pistol from Roy Thabani Sibanda.
Marufu allegedly took the pistol for safekeeping while in the charge office.
She was instructed by Sergeant Noel Mutika to carry out safety precautions on the pistol before handing it over since it was cocked.
Marufu lifted the gun as instructed so as to clear it in the process squeezing the trigger and shot Moyo who was seated in the charge office.
He was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals while Marufu was arrested.
Source - Byo24News
