News / National
Man walks free after State withdrew murder charges
14 Nov 2013 at 02:14hrs | Views
A HARARE man who was accused of partnering three others and killing another following an altercation over extra-marital affairs yesterday walked a free man after the State withdrew the case against him.
Suceed Mapira, who has been in custody on murder charges for more than a year, had the case against him withdrawn before plea by Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei after the State decided to use him as a witness yesterday and postponed the matter to November 27.
Mapira would provide evidence against his former co-accused, Blessing Bvunzawabaya (27), Lloyd Mupazvirivo (25) and Nomore Nyagona (28), all of Kebab Squatter Camp.
They all had been in custody since their arrest on August 18 last year after allegedly contravening a section of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that the trio connived to murder Bvunzawabaya's husband, Elias Mugozhi.
On August 17 last year, Mugozhi had a dispute with Mapira who was allegedly having an extra-marital affair with Bvunzawabaya.
In the presence of Bvunzawabaya, Mupazvirivo and Nyagona, he allegedly pounced on Mapira using an iron bar.
On the following day, Mupazvirivo and Nyagona met the deceased at a bar at Tomlinson Police Depot and promised to revenge on what had happened at their shacks at the squatter camp.
Mugozhi felt threatened and informed his wife and the pair allegedly took their blankets, left the shack and pretended to sleep in the bush.
Bvunzawabaya allegedly left her husband behind and went to a secluded place before going back to their shack where she found Mupazvirivo and Nyagona.
She allegedly took an iron bar used to strike Mapira and gave it to the pair before returning to bush.
Mupazvirivo and Nyagona allegedly dragged Mugozhi into a stream before striking him with the iron bar and asked Bvunzawabaya to bring his clothes. They selected the ones they wanted and Bvunzawabaya burnt the rest, the court was told.
Mugozhi spent the night lying unconscious outside and later died.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons.
Suceed Mapira, who has been in custody on murder charges for more than a year, had the case against him withdrawn before plea by Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei after the State decided to use him as a witness yesterday and postponed the matter to November 27.
Mapira would provide evidence against his former co-accused, Blessing Bvunzawabaya (27), Lloyd Mupazvirivo (25) and Nomore Nyagona (28), all of Kebab Squatter Camp.
They all had been in custody since their arrest on August 18 last year after allegedly contravening a section of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that the trio connived to murder Bvunzawabaya's husband, Elias Mugozhi.
On August 17 last year, Mugozhi had a dispute with Mapira who was allegedly having an extra-marital affair with Bvunzawabaya.
In the presence of Bvunzawabaya, Mupazvirivo and Nyagona, he allegedly pounced on Mapira using an iron bar.
On the following day, Mupazvirivo and Nyagona met the deceased at a bar at Tomlinson Police Depot and promised to revenge on what had happened at their shacks at the squatter camp.
Mugozhi felt threatened and informed his wife and the pair allegedly took their blankets, left the shack and pretended to sleep in the bush.
Bvunzawabaya allegedly left her husband behind and went to a secluded place before going back to their shack where she found Mupazvirivo and Nyagona.
She allegedly took an iron bar used to strike Mapira and gave it to the pair before returning to bush.
Mupazvirivo and Nyagona allegedly dragged Mugozhi into a stream before striking him with the iron bar and asked Bvunzawabaya to bring his clothes. They selected the ones they wanted and Bvunzawabaya burnt the rest, the court was told.
Mugozhi spent the night lying unconscious outside and later died.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons.
Source - herald
