Cop killer remanded in custody

A suspected thief who allegedly stabbed and killed a police constable who wanted to arrest him for stealing tobacco bales, was yesterday remanded in custody.

It is alleged Paison Daka (28) of Waterfalls and his accomplices,  who are still at large, offloaded six tobacco bales from Mr David Mandeya's truck when he had slowed down due to the state of the road in Lochinvar, Harare.

The now deceased - 25-year-old Cst Brian Nyarutya - and his colleagues, Cst Tawanda Mazhawidza and Cst Simbarashe Sankulani, were assigned to the crime scene to conduct investigations.

While Cst Nyarutya was about to arrest Daka, he produced a knife and stabbed him twice in the thigh and chest.

Daka yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei charged with murder.

Mr Ndirowei remanded him in custody to June 13 and advised him to apply for bail at the High Court due to the seriousness of the offence.

Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira alleges that on May 27, Daka in the company of Tawanda and Fungai Manjoro hatched a plan to steal tobacco bales from vehicles which were passing by on their way to the Tobacco Sales Floor.

They proceeded to a place known as Green Trees around 2am where they stole six bales from Mr Mandeya's truck.

When the three cops arrived at the scene around 4am they saw one bale which was hidden in the grass and upon noticing that the police officers were advancing towards them, Daka and his accomplices fled the scene with the cops in hot pursuit.

Cst Nyarutya apprehended Daka, who allegedly produced a knife and stabbed him once in the thigh.

Upon noticing that Cst Nyarutya was not loosening his grip, he stabbed him again on the chest.

Daka was arrested by the other two officers before he could flee.

Cst Nyarutya was pronounced dead on arrival at Harare Central Hospital.