News / National
Girlfriend killer denied bail
08 Apr 2013 at 06:51hrs | Views
HARARE High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa last Friday dismissed a bail application for Pritchard Zimondi, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend in cold blood in Chitungwiza last year, saying the accused was likely to flee if released.
Justice Musakwa said the late Monalisa Chinomona's murder appeared to have been pre-planned by Zimondi judging by the evidence so far adduced during the bail applications.
"This looks like a premeditated murder. No special circumstances have been adduced to warrant the granting of bail to the appellant," Justice Musakwa said.
The judge further said Zimondi had provided the court with a plethora of explanations pertaining to where he had obtained the pair of ladies' panties and a bra, recovered in his possession upon arrest.
The court also said Zimondi had provided contradictory evidence on his whereabouts at the time his girlfriend was murdered.
In his application through Harare lawyer Norman Mugiya, Zimondi argued he was a suitable candidate for bail since his trial had been postponed several times.
But prosecutor Editor Mavuto opposed his bail bid telling the court that the postponements were attributed to administrative issues and Zimondi himself, who, at some point, fell ill and was unable to stand trial.
The State alleges that on April 24 last year, Zimondi stabbed Chinomona 15 times all over the body, killing her instantly at her parents' residence in Unit K, Chitungwiza.
When the police went to the scene, they reportedly found Chinomona's body lying in a pool of blood, her face covered with a pillow and a knife still stuck on her chest.
Chinomona's brother, Tanyaradzwa, returned home and found the main door locked after which he used his spare keys to gain entry into the house where he found his sister lying dead in a pool of blood.
He reported the matter to the police and Zimondi was arrested in Harare where he was allegedly found in possession of Chinomona's panties, bra and a bunch of keys to the Chinomona house.
Justice Musakwa said the late Monalisa Chinomona's murder appeared to have been pre-planned by Zimondi judging by the evidence so far adduced during the bail applications.
"This looks like a premeditated murder. No special circumstances have been adduced to warrant the granting of bail to the appellant," Justice Musakwa said.
The judge further said Zimondi had provided the court with a plethora of explanations pertaining to where he had obtained the pair of ladies' panties and a bra, recovered in his possession upon arrest.
The court also said Zimondi had provided contradictory evidence on his whereabouts at the time his girlfriend was murdered.
But prosecutor Editor Mavuto opposed his bail bid telling the court that the postponements were attributed to administrative issues and Zimondi himself, who, at some point, fell ill and was unable to stand trial.
The State alleges that on April 24 last year, Zimondi stabbed Chinomona 15 times all over the body, killing her instantly at her parents' residence in Unit K, Chitungwiza.
When the police went to the scene, they reportedly found Chinomona's body lying in a pool of blood, her face covered with a pillow and a knife still stuck on her chest.
Chinomona's brother, Tanyaradzwa, returned home and found the main door locked after which he used his spare keys to gain entry into the house where he found his sister lying dead in a pool of blood.
He reported the matter to the police and Zimondi was arrested in Harare where he was allegedly found in possession of Chinomona's panties, bra and a bunch of keys to the Chinomona house.
Source - newsday
