Driver killed in row over fare

A man allegedly killed the driver of a vehicle he had boarded in the company of his three accomplices following a dispute over bus fare, the court heard yesterday.

Liberty Mashatise (27) of 15 Phase 1 Eastview, Caledonia, was facing murder charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.

He was denied bail and was told to approach the High Court for the application. He will be back in court on March 29. Allegations are that on April 13 last year at Phase 1, Eastview, Mashatise boarded the deceased's vehicle in the company of his three accomplices.

The court heard that a misunderstanding ensued about payment of the fare, resulting in the deceased refusing to drop the quartet at their destination.

It is the State's case that the quartet immediately paid the fare soon after moving a short distance and, the deceased stopped the vehicle to drop them.

The court heard that as they were disembarking from the vehicle, one of the quartet banged the deceased's vehicle.

It is alleged that this infuriated the deceased who immediately disembarked from the vehicle and approached the quartet.

This did not go down well with the quartet who stoned the deceased with a brick on the head resulting in his death.