News / Local
Cop shoots colleague
14 Aug 2015 at 07:51hrs | Views
A POLICE officer based at Hillside Police Station appeared in court yesterday charged with shooting her colleague after she accidentally discharged a firearm inside the charge office.
The court heard that on October 10 2013, Melody Anna Marufu (35) of Mpopoma in Bulawayo was on duty at Hillside Police Station when she received a caliber Norinco pistol for safe keeping from Leonard Kanukai Changunda.
Changunda is a police officer who at the time of the offence was holding the rank of Assistant Inspector and had obtained the pistol from Roy Thabani Sibanda.
On the same day, Marufu took the pistol for safekeeping while in the charge office.
She was instructed by Sergeant Noel Mutika to carry out safety precautions on the pistol before handing it over since it was cocked.
Marufu lifted the gun as instructed so as to clear it in the process squeezing the trigger and shot another police officer Thabiso Moyo who was seated in the charge office.
The bullet hit Moyo's right side of the neck and once on the left middle finger.
He was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals while Marufu was arrested.
Marufu was not asked to plead to negligent or reckless discharge of a firearm when she appeared before Bulawayo senior magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
The magistrate remanded the matter to September 3 for trial.
The court heard that on October 10 2013, Melody Anna Marufu (35) of Mpopoma in Bulawayo was on duty at Hillside Police Station when she received a caliber Norinco pistol for safe keeping from Leonard Kanukai Changunda.
Changunda is a police officer who at the time of the offence was holding the rank of Assistant Inspector and had obtained the pistol from Roy Thabani Sibanda.
On the same day, Marufu took the pistol for safekeeping while in the charge office.
She was instructed by Sergeant Noel Mutika to carry out safety precautions on the pistol before handing it over since it was cocked.
Marufu lifted the gun as instructed so as to clear it in the process squeezing the trigger and shot another police officer Thabiso Moyo who was seated in the charge office.
The bullet hit Moyo's right side of the neck and once on the left middle finger.
He was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals while Marufu was arrested.
Marufu was not asked to plead to negligent or reckless discharge of a firearm when she appeared before Bulawayo senior magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
The magistrate remanded the matter to September 3 for trial.
Source - Southern Eye
