Cop who bashed his boss for an affair with his wife acquitted

A police constable accused of beating up his boss after accusing him of having an affair with his wife was yesterday acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Tinashe Munhamo (22) had pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting his boss Inspector Newyear Rera (39), officer-in-charge of the police construction section in Nkayi, when he appeared before Nkayi magistrate Ndumo Masuku.

The magistrate found him not guilty and acquitted him citing lack of evidence and non provision of a medical report in court to back the allegations.

Munhamo's acquittal followed testimony by his wife Moreblessing Chitengedza last week that on the day in question Rera came to their house at 12 midnight while her husband was away.

She said her husband arrived at the house minutes later and found Rera sitting on their matrimonial bed. Chitengedza said Rera bolted from the house. Four police officers testified against Munhamo.

They told the court that on the day of the alleged incident, Munhamo was violent, which led to his arrest at the police station.

The prosecutor Maxwell Hapanyengwi told the court that Munhamo accused his boss, officer-in-charge of the police's construction section in Nkayi, of having an affair with his wife.

On January 19 at 12 midnight, Rera left his residence going to his office.

Munhamo allegedly waylaid him and struck him on the neck with an unknown object. Rera fell down and Munhamo struck him on the left foot with a stone.

He allegedly threatened to stab him with a knife.

But Rera grabbed his hand, freed himself from Munhamo's grip and fled to the charge office where he made a report.