News / National
Kombi conductor convicted of attempted murder
23 Feb 2012 at 04:49hrs | Views
A COMMUTER omnibus conductor, who pushed a police officer out of a moving kombi, in a bid to evade arrest has been sentenced to an effective five-year prison term. Guide Matsika (25) was convicted of attempted murder.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire sentenced Matsika to eight years in prison before suspending three years on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Mr Nemadire said that touts were becoming very notorious and a nuisance to the public.
"Touts have really become notorious and there is need for effective prison terms for them to be taught to respect the laws of the country," said Mr Nemadire.
"This accused must go to prison for a fairly long time so that the public will have faith in the justice delivery system."
In aggravation the State led by Mr Michael Reza had called for a short and sharp sentence saying Matsika wanted to kill a police officer on duty.
"He must learn a lesson so that touts do not become a law unto themselves as they currently are. He intended to cause the death of a police officer who was on duty for a crime that he as a conductor would never have been charged with," he said.
On December 28 last year, the complainant, Vinia Mutaramutswa was on duty carrying out traffic duties.
She saw Matsika's kombi dangerously parked along Robson Manyika and got into the kombi. When Chimbanda started the vehicle, Matsika suddenly pushed Mutaramutswa out of the vehicle and she fractured her leg. The crew sped off and Mutaramutswa was rushed to hospital.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire sentenced Matsika to eight years in prison before suspending three years on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Mr Nemadire said that touts were becoming very notorious and a nuisance to the public.
"Touts have really become notorious and there is need for effective prison terms for them to be taught to respect the laws of the country," said Mr Nemadire.
"This accused must go to prison for a fairly long time so that the public will have faith in the justice delivery system."
In aggravation the State led by Mr Michael Reza had called for a short and sharp sentence saying Matsika wanted to kill a police officer on duty.
"He must learn a lesson so that touts do not become a law unto themselves as they currently are. He intended to cause the death of a police officer who was on duty for a crime that he as a conductor would never have been charged with," he said.
On December 28 last year, the complainant, Vinia Mutaramutswa was on duty carrying out traffic duties.
She saw Matsika's kombi dangerously parked along Robson Manyika and got into the kombi. When Chimbanda started the vehicle, Matsika suddenly pushed Mutaramutswa out of the vehicle and she fractured her leg. The crew sped off and Mutaramutswa was rushed to hospital.
Source - TH
