Suspected MDC-T cop killers to spend another weekend in custody

TWENTY MDC-T activists accused of murdering a police inspector in Glen View last month will spend another weekend in custody waiting for the High Court to make a ruling on their bail application next week.

Inspector Petros Mutedza was killed last month while on duty. Justice Tendai Uchena said he had a busy schedule this week and declined to set a date for the ruling because he needed time to go through the papers, giving an impression that he might be ready sometime next week.

"I am not sure when I will be through with the judgment considering we have heard this matter for three consecutive days. This week I am in the bails court and the pressure may not allow me to quickly come up with a ruling. My clerk will get in touch with you (State and defence) as soon as the judgment will be ready," said Justice Uchena.

During the three-day bail application, defence lawyer Mr Charles Kwaramba of Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni, who was assisted by Mr Obey Shava, argued that the suspects were proper candidates for bail and that they should be released forthwith. Law Officer Mr Edmore Nyazamba opposed the application saying the suspects were likely to abscond considering the fact that most of them had evaded police before arrest. He said some were arrested at lodges and some at night an indication that they were running away from the police. Mr Nyazamba said the suspects were likely to interfere with State witnesses.

He said if granted bail, the suspects would flee the jurisdiction of the court, as most of them had passports and connections outside the country. Mr Nyazamba also submitted that the offence was very serious and that the State had a strong case. This, he argued, might induce the suspects to abscond. However, Mr Kwaramba told the court that the State's grounds of opposition were bald and unsubstantiated. Mr Kwaramba said the majority of the suspects were arrested from their homes, an indication that they were not in hiding.

Two were arrested at a lodge that is in Harare and there was no evidence to prove that they knew police were looking for them. Mr Kwaramba said the State's case was very weak and that nothing would induce the suspects to flee.

He challenged the State to particularise and state the role played by each suspect in the commission of the offence to prove reasonable suspicion and the strength of the State's case. Charges against the suspects are that they fatally assaulted Insp Mutedza at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre on May 28. It is alleged that Insp Mutedza and his colleague had gone to Glen View to investigate an illegal meeting that MDC-T youths were holding at the shops.

The other officer sustained injuries.