News / National
Gumbura's wives disown police statements
11 Feb 2014 at 01:31hrs | Views
THE trial of three of convicted rapist Robert Martin Gumbura's wives and their alleged five accomplices accused of photographing themselves n*ked yesterday proceeded to a trial within a trial after they disowned their police statements.
A trial within a trial is an inquiry to establish the circumstances in which the accused gave their warned and cautioned statements.
Choice Neganje (32), Amadeus Mutakwa (32), Rutendo Sekai Mandiya (28), Pamera Kandawire (27), Runyararo Musvovi (27), Veronica Mbanga (27), Tendai Kwatara (34) and Moreblessing Takawira (35) are facing charges of contravening the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.
The Herald reported that through their lawyer, Ms Rekai Maposa, the women disowned statements recorded by the police, the contents of the statements, the signatures, the police officer who recorded the statement and the lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Samundombe, who was alleged to be present.
This came after prosecutor Mr Michael Reza intended to submit the statements in court as evidence.
Detective Constable Tariro Rangwani, who was testifying, insisted that she was the officer who recorded the statements.
She told the court that the women submitted that they took turns to photograph each other n*ked for fun.
Det Cst Rangwani said she recorded the statements before Mr Samundombe, who was representing the women at that time.
Responding to Det Cst Rangwani's allegation Ms Maposa branded her an impostor who was able to identify all the accused because she attended all the court sessions.
"We are challenging the production of the statements because the accused never spoke to this police officer who is only an impostor," she said.
Mr Reza insisted that Det Cst Rangwani was the one who recorded the statements that is why she was able to identify the accused in any order.
Magistrate Mr Douglas Chikwekwe granted the trial within a trial. Testifying again, Det Cst Rangwani told the court that the women gave their statement in a sober state after she advised them of the constitutional right of remaining silent.
As she was being led by Mr Reza, Det Cst Rangwani told the court that she was assisted by Det Cst Zvenyika.
"Mr Samundombe, Det Cst Zvenyika and myself appended our signatures on the statements," she said.
During cross-examination Ms Maposa asked Det Cst Rangwani why she was attending to the court sessions when she knew the State would call her as a witness.
Her response was that she attended court proceedings after instructions from her officer-in-charge unaware that the State would call her as a witness.
The matter proceeds today as Mr Reza subpoenaed Det Cst Zvenyika.
A trial within a trial is an inquiry to establish the circumstances in which the accused gave their warned and cautioned statements.
Choice Neganje (32), Amadeus Mutakwa (32), Rutendo Sekai Mandiya (28), Pamera Kandawire (27), Runyararo Musvovi (27), Veronica Mbanga (27), Tendai Kwatara (34) and Moreblessing Takawira (35) are facing charges of contravening the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.
The Herald reported that through their lawyer, Ms Rekai Maposa, the women disowned statements recorded by the police, the contents of the statements, the signatures, the police officer who recorded the statement and the lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Samundombe, who was alleged to be present.
This came after prosecutor Mr Michael Reza intended to submit the statements in court as evidence.
Detective Constable Tariro Rangwani, who was testifying, insisted that she was the officer who recorded the statements.
She told the court that the women submitted that they took turns to photograph each other n*ked for fun.
Det Cst Rangwani said she recorded the statements before Mr Samundombe, who was representing the women at that time.
Responding to Det Cst Rangwani's allegation Ms Maposa branded her an impostor who was able to identify all the accused because she attended all the court sessions.
"We are challenging the production of the statements because the accused never spoke to this police officer who is only an impostor," she said.
Mr Reza insisted that Det Cst Rangwani was the one who recorded the statements that is why she was able to identify the accused in any order.
Magistrate Mr Douglas Chikwekwe granted the trial within a trial. Testifying again, Det Cst Rangwani told the court that the women gave their statement in a sober state after she advised them of the constitutional right of remaining silent.
As she was being led by Mr Reza, Det Cst Rangwani told the court that she was assisted by Det Cst Zvenyika.
"Mr Samundombe, Det Cst Zvenyika and myself appended our signatures on the statements," she said.
During cross-examination Ms Maposa asked Det Cst Rangwani why she was attending to the court sessions when she knew the State would call her as a witness.
Her response was that she attended court proceedings after instructions from her officer-in-charge unaware that the State would call her as a witness.
The matter proceeds today as Mr Reza subpoenaed Det Cst Zvenyika.
Source - The Herald
