News / National
Zimbabwe teenage toy gun robber gets 20 years behind bars
17 Jun 2011 at 06:03hrs | Views
A Chitungzwiza teenager who robbed five cabmen of their vehicles and other valuables using a toy gun, will spend an effective 20 years in jail.
Tafadzwa Humire (18) who was involved in an accident while driving one of the stolen taxis was arrested after trying to report the mishap.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to five counts of armed robbery when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Never Katiyo.
He had another 12 months wholly suspended after pleading guilty to making a false report to the police.
Humire was in May convicted of the same offence and sentenced to five years of which two years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
In passing sentence, Mr Katiyo took into account that Humire did not waste the court's time, when he pleaded guilty to all the counts.
The court also considered that he was still young adding that most of the property had been recovered.
Mr Katiyo said although courts had always been encouraged to keep juveniles out of prison, Humire's case was exceptional.
"Accused committed a very serious offence that touches on the apex of crime.
"Even if the accused is a juvenile, he committed the offences with a great deal premeditation," he said.
He said Humire's moral blameworthiness was very high in that he went on to make a false report after he was involved in an accident to avoid detection of his criminal actions.
Mr Katiyo said Humire was a bad influence even to adults, hence he could not be spared a custodial sentence.
He said Humire's actions were only seen in western movies.
Prosecutor Mr Editor Mavuto said agreed facts were that on March 12 this year at around midnight the complainant Fast Taruvinga, a taxi driver with Lannes Taxis was on duty parked at Elizabeth Hotel along Rezende Street.
Humire approached him pretending he wanted to go to Mabelreign and he was charged US$10.
He sat at the back of the vehicle and upon reaching Sunridge Humire ordered the complainant to stop and switch on the light before producing a toy gun and pointing it at complainant.
He robbed him of US$50, a Nokia cellphone and the vehicle.
He was involved in an accident at Martine Park Bridge in Mabelreign and he abandoned the vehicle.
Tafadzwa Humire (18) who was involved in an accident while driving one of the stolen taxis was arrested after trying to report the mishap.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to five counts of armed robbery when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Never Katiyo.
He had another 12 months wholly suspended after pleading guilty to making a false report to the police.
Humire was in May convicted of the same offence and sentenced to five years of which two years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
In passing sentence, Mr Katiyo took into account that Humire did not waste the court's time, when he pleaded guilty to all the counts.
The court also considered that he was still young adding that most of the property had been recovered.
Mr Katiyo said although courts had always been encouraged to keep juveniles out of prison, Humire's case was exceptional.
"Accused committed a very serious offence that touches on the apex of crime.
He said Humire's moral blameworthiness was very high in that he went on to make a false report after he was involved in an accident to avoid detection of his criminal actions.
Mr Katiyo said Humire was a bad influence even to adults, hence he could not be spared a custodial sentence.
He said Humire's actions were only seen in western movies.
Prosecutor Mr Editor Mavuto said agreed facts were that on March 12 this year at around midnight the complainant Fast Taruvinga, a taxi driver with Lannes Taxis was on duty parked at Elizabeth Hotel along Rezende Street.
Humire approached him pretending he wanted to go to Mabelreign and he was charged US$10.
He sat at the back of the vehicle and upon reaching Sunridge Humire ordered the complainant to stop and switch on the light before producing a toy gun and pointing it at complainant.
He robbed him of US$50, a Nokia cellphone and the vehicle.
He was involved in an accident at Martine Park Bridge in Mabelreign and he abandoned the vehicle.
Source - TH
