News / National
Valentine's eve murder suspect still on the run
16 Feb 2015 at 06:30hrs | Views
TICHAONA Maridzi of Mhosva village under headman Chipundu is still on the run, four years after stoning to death a married rival suitor over a married lover in a Valentine's eve tragedy in 2011.
Maridza stoned Edias Mhosva on February 13 2011 after finding him hugging and caressing Getrude Dzingai (36) in a secluded love nest in the bush.
Mhosva died on the spot and Maridzi sought the help of Energy Home to dump the deceased's corpse in Dinhe River.
Home appeared before High Court judge Justice Francis Bere facing a murder charge.
Home pleaded not guilty saying he did not kill Mhosva, but Justice Bere slapped him with an eight-year jail term for accessory to murder and obstructing the course of justice by attempting to conceal the deceased's corpse.
Prosecutor Takunda Chikwati told the court that on the fateful day, Mhosva was at a traditional beer drink and left at around 3pm to meet Dzingai at their usual love nest.
The two adulterous lovebirds started hugging and caressing, but were caught by Maridzi and Home, who were heading home from the same beer drink at around 5pm.
Dzingai fled the scene.
An incensed and jealous Maridzi stoned Mhosva on the forehead killing him instantly.
The court heard that Maridzi convinced Home not to tell anyone and they carried Mhosva's corpse and threw it into the river. The two returned to the homestead where they had been drinking traditional beer and lied to other villagers that Mhosva had drowned in the river.
The villagers first attended the scene, before making a report at Chivi Police Station.
A post mortem was carried out at Masvingo General Hospital and it revealed that Mhosva had died of head injuries and cervical spine injury.
In passing judgment, Justice Bere said Home was convicted due to overwhelming evidence that he tried to conceal evidence and defeat the course of justice by assisting the fugitive Maridzi, even though he was not the one who murdered Mhosva.
"While it is true that the accused did not take part in the commission of crime, he was persuaded to conceal evidence and thus defeat the course of justice. This occurs to me that the accused is a circumstantial offender who instinctively rendered assistance on the commission of crime," Justice Bere said in passing judgment.
"Although the principal offender evaded prosecution by escaping the borders, the accused has to face the consequences. The conduct of concealing a serious crime like murder cannot be taken lightly."
Maridza stoned Edias Mhosva on February 13 2011 after finding him hugging and caressing Getrude Dzingai (36) in a secluded love nest in the bush.
Mhosva died on the spot and Maridzi sought the help of Energy Home to dump the deceased's corpse in Dinhe River.
Home appeared before High Court judge Justice Francis Bere facing a murder charge.
Home pleaded not guilty saying he did not kill Mhosva, but Justice Bere slapped him with an eight-year jail term for accessory to murder and obstructing the course of justice by attempting to conceal the deceased's corpse.
Prosecutor Takunda Chikwati told the court that on the fateful day, Mhosva was at a traditional beer drink and left at around 3pm to meet Dzingai at their usual love nest.
The two adulterous lovebirds started hugging and caressing, but were caught by Maridzi and Home, who were heading home from the same beer drink at around 5pm.
Dzingai fled the scene.
An incensed and jealous Maridzi stoned Mhosva on the forehead killing him instantly.
The court heard that Maridzi convinced Home not to tell anyone and they carried Mhosva's corpse and threw it into the river. The two returned to the homestead where they had been drinking traditional beer and lied to other villagers that Mhosva had drowned in the river.
The villagers first attended the scene, before making a report at Chivi Police Station.
A post mortem was carried out at Masvingo General Hospital and it revealed that Mhosva had died of head injuries and cervical spine injury.
In passing judgment, Justice Bere said Home was convicted due to overwhelming evidence that he tried to conceal evidence and defeat the course of justice by assisting the fugitive Maridzi, even though he was not the one who murdered Mhosva.
"While it is true that the accused did not take part in the commission of crime, he was persuaded to conceal evidence and thus defeat the course of justice. This occurs to me that the accused is a circumstantial offender who instinctively rendered assistance on the commission of crime," Justice Bere said in passing judgment.
"Although the principal offender evaded prosecution by escaping the borders, the accused has to face the consequences. The conduct of concealing a serious crime like murder cannot be taken lightly."
Source - Southern Eye
