Police-beating Vapostori member freed

HARARE - ONE of the 37 members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu sect Alexio Chinhara facing charges of assaulting police officers, journalists and others in Budiriro in May was yesterday exonerated by the State after it closed its case.

Chinhara indicated that he was not present at the shrine on the day of the alleged violence.

Prosecutor Francisca Mukumbira told the court that there was no evidence that proved Chinhara's presence at the shrine on May 30.

The 37 appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe and are facing charges of assault.

Mukumbiri told the court that 36 members of the sect still had a case to answer and 13 of them were positively identified as the perpetrators of the violence by 10 witnesses who testified.

The rest of the accused are being linked to the alleged offence by their presence at the scene of the crime.

Mukumbiri indicated that the conduct of the members forced the State to apply the doctrine of common purpose since they allegedly took part in the singing that motivated others to assault the police officers and the media crew on May 30.

All the members of the sect are not being represented.


Herald