News / National
Policemen acquitted of robbing Harare couple
01 Aug 2012 at 11:24hrs | Views
TWO policemen were last Friday acquitted of robbing a Harare couple of US$2 500 and some valuables at gun-point. Lewis Teera (39) and Delish Nguwaya (29), both stationed at Mabelreign police camp, were found not guilty and acquitted at the close of the State case.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge when their trial started before regional magistrate Mr Rogers Kachambwa.
The complainants, Peter Balakazi and his wife Rejoice Muzondo, unsuccessfully attempted to have the charges withdrawn before plea on the basis that it was a matter of mistaken identity.
During trial, the two gave conflicting evidence, prompting prosecutor Mr Michael Reza to withdraw the matter at the close of the State case.
Mr Reza told the court that the witnesses contradicted each other in various aspects hence their evidence was unreliable.
"Your Worship, the witnesses' evidence is unreliable.
"It was so manifestly unreliable to an extent that the State had no choice but to withdraw charges after plea," said Mr Reza.
"There is no evidence linking the two accused persons to this crime since the complainants have completely exonerated them from this crime."
Mr Kachambwa concurred with the State and freed the two law enforcement agents.
Muzondo, in her evidence-in-chief, was asked by Mr Reza if Teera and Ngwaya were the ones who had robbed them.
It was alleged that Teera had a misunderstanding with Balakazi after accusing him of side-swiping his vehicle before Nguwaya joined in and grabbed Muzondo's handbag which contained US$2 500 cash and valuables worth US$225.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge when their trial started before regional magistrate Mr Rogers Kachambwa.
The complainants, Peter Balakazi and his wife Rejoice Muzondo, unsuccessfully attempted to have the charges withdrawn before plea on the basis that it was a matter of mistaken identity.
During trial, the two gave conflicting evidence, prompting prosecutor Mr Michael Reza to withdraw the matter at the close of the State case.
Mr Reza told the court that the witnesses contradicted each other in various aspects hence their evidence was unreliable.
"It was so manifestly unreliable to an extent that the State had no choice but to withdraw charges after plea," said Mr Reza.
"There is no evidence linking the two accused persons to this crime since the complainants have completely exonerated them from this crime."
Mr Kachambwa concurred with the State and freed the two law enforcement agents.
Muzondo, in her evidence-in-chief, was asked by Mr Reza if Teera and Ngwaya were the ones who had robbed them.
It was alleged that Teera had a misunderstanding with Balakazi after accusing him of side-swiping his vehicle before Nguwaya joined in and grabbed Muzondo's handbag which contained US$2 500 cash and valuables worth US$225.
Source - TH
