News / National
Boyfriend jailed for killing lover with an axe
08 Mar 2013 at 05:21hrs | Views
A 37-year-old Nyazura man, who callously murdered his girlfriend following a heated argument and went into hiding in Mutare for three years, was yesterday slapped with a 14-year jail term for murder with constructive intent when he appeared before High Court judge Justice Susan Mavangira in Mutare.
The court heard that on August 20 2009, Tapiwa Murehwa had a heated argument with his live-in girlfriend Lista Mlambo (55) over an undisclosed matter at their home in Machome village.
According to court papers, Murehwa struck the woman's head with an axe, killing her instantly.
After committing the offence, Murehwa slept in the same room with his girlfriend's corpse and the following day he went about his normal household chores and told neighbours and other family members that his girlfriend had travelled to Rusape.
That same day, Mlambo's 17-year-old daughter became inquisitive and managed to force open the door after Murehwa had left home.
She found her mother lying in a pool of blood.
After getting wind that the crime had been discovered, Murehwa fled the area and sought refuge in Mutare.
He was to be nabbed after three years.
In his own defence, Murehwa claimed he had used an axe on his girlfriend in self defence after the latter had attacked him.
Justice Mavangira rapped Murehwa for concealing the crime from other family members and going into hiding where he went on to cohabit with another woman.
Jane-Rose Matsikidze prosecuted.
The court heard that on August 20 2009, Tapiwa Murehwa had a heated argument with his live-in girlfriend Lista Mlambo (55) over an undisclosed matter at their home in Machome village.
According to court papers, Murehwa struck the woman's head with an axe, killing her instantly.
After committing the offence, Murehwa slept in the same room with his girlfriend's corpse and the following day he went about his normal household chores and told neighbours and other family members that his girlfriend had travelled to Rusape.
That same day, Mlambo's 17-year-old daughter became inquisitive and managed to force open the door after Murehwa had left home.
She found her mother lying in a pool of blood.
After getting wind that the crime had been discovered, Murehwa fled the area and sought refuge in Mutare.
He was to be nabbed after three years.
In his own defence, Murehwa claimed he had used an axe on his girlfriend in self defence after the latter had attacked him.
Justice Mavangira rapped Murehwa for concealing the crime from other family members and going into hiding where he went on to cohabit with another woman.
Jane-Rose Matsikidze prosecuted.
Source - newsday
