Murder suspect goes bonkers

There was drama at the Harare Magistrates' Courts yesterday when a suspected murderer and armed robber started undressing in the dock while shouting on top of his voice in a suspected case of mental illness.

All along 35-year-old Johanne Kamudyariwa had been in his normal senses each time he was brought to court for his routine remand, but yesterday he appeared to have lost his marbles.

Kamudyariwa is facing 13 counts of unlawful entry, three counts of armed robbery, two of rape, one of murder and another of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Kamudyariwa appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe for his routine remand and before the court could hear his matter, he started pointing his fingers at the gallery shouting: "Ndiyani uyo, varikunditarisirei, varikuti ndini ndakaba. Handisirini ndakauraya ini inga mombe dzavo ndakavapa dziriko kumusha uko. Mukadzi wangu vape mombe dzavo."

He suddenly took off his shirt and threw it at prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira before attempting to remove his shorts much to the surprise of people who were in the gallery.

A prison officer had to wrestle Kamudyariwa back to the holding cells as Mr Mahwe rolled over the case to today.