Man smears self with faeces to avoid trial

A 29-year-old man facing a charge of malicious damage to property stunned a Gweru court when smeared himself with human waste all over his body apparently in a bid to evade trial.

The incident, which was witnessed by this reporter, occurred on Wednesday when Joseph Jembere of House Number 3524, Olio Crescent in Northlea, Gweru, disrupted court proceedings as everyone present could not cope with the foul smell.

The police had a torrid time bringing Jembere to court from the police holding cells after he soiled himself while on his way to the court.

Witnesses said Jembere took his waste and smeared it all over the body while refusing to get into the court room.

"Jembere soiled himself while he was being force marched to the court by the police. He then smeared himself with the waste," said an eyewitness.

Business was temporarily brought to a halt at the magistrate's court when Jembere refused to get into the court room.

Once inside, Jembere refused to stand in the dock where he was to face magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

The magistrate was forced to postpone the matter indefinitely before plea recommending that Jembere undergoes a psychiatric examination.

For the state, Gracious Rongai alleged that on Sunday, the complainant, Eshwet Dube, was travelling along the streets of Gweru when he saw Jembere chasing after a group of people. Rongai told the court that Dube then saw Jembere throwing a stone at his car smashing the windscreen.

Dube stopped his car and effected a citizen's arrest on Jembere before force marching him to the police station.