News / National
Airforce of Zimbabwe officer kills colleague
01 Jul 2017 at 14:02hrs | Views
A 24-YEAR-OLD Airforce of Zimbabwe officer, who allegedly shot and killed his colleague at Manyame Airbase after failing to sexually abuse her, yesterday appeared at the High Court charged with murder.
Blessmore Shatei, pleaded not guilty to shooting and killing, Venah Bokosha.
He told Justice Tawanda Chitapi that Bokosha was accidentally killed by her own AK47, which apparently discharged, while the two were wrestling for it after she foiled his attempts to rape her.
Shatei, however, failed to explain to the court why he dragged and hid Bokosha's body.
The accused also failed to explain why Bokosha's body was recovered naked, with her army jeans pulled down to her ankles.
One of the witnesses, Brodgia Maponga, a police officer, who attended the murder scene, said a blood spoor led him to Bokosha's body.
Maponga said he noticed the body was covered with dry gumtree branches.
He said when he removed the branches, he noticed Bokosha was wearing her army uniform, but her underwear and denim jeans had been pulled to her ankles.
The police officer also noticed a blood stained sanitary pad on the ground and that Bokosha had what appeared to be a gunshot wound just below her left ear.
According to the State's case on April 26, 2015, Bokosha was on duty at Bomb Dump, where Shatei was supposed to take over from her at 6pm together with Freddy Muchinapa.
The State alleges at around 6pm Prince Maphosa saw Shatei heading towards the Bomb Dump, but shortly, thereafter, a gunshot was heard coming from the direction he was headed to.
The following day, it is alleged Bokosha's body was discovered by Rudo Makaza covered with dry gumtree shrubs in a bushy area between Bomb Dump and Married Quarters.
In her testimony, Makaza said on April 26, she noticed that Bokosha, with whom she shared a room at Manyame Airbase, had not surrendered her Icam radio when her shift ended.
Makaza also realised that Bokosha had not slept in their room and went out to look for her at the Bomb Dumb, when she noticed some blood on the grass and later the body of the now-deceased.
The State is being represented by Albert Masamha, while Shatei is represented by Ignatious Goto.
The matter is yet to be finalised.
Blessmore Shatei, pleaded not guilty to shooting and killing, Venah Bokosha.
He told Justice Tawanda Chitapi that Bokosha was accidentally killed by her own AK47, which apparently discharged, while the two were wrestling for it after she foiled his attempts to rape her.
Shatei, however, failed to explain to the court why he dragged and hid Bokosha's body.
The accused also failed to explain why Bokosha's body was recovered naked, with her army jeans pulled down to her ankles.
One of the witnesses, Brodgia Maponga, a police officer, who attended the murder scene, said a blood spoor led him to Bokosha's body.
Maponga said he noticed the body was covered with dry gumtree branches.
He said when he removed the branches, he noticed Bokosha was wearing her army uniform, but her underwear and denim jeans had been pulled to her ankles.
According to the State's case on April 26, 2015, Bokosha was on duty at Bomb Dump, where Shatei was supposed to take over from her at 6pm together with Freddy Muchinapa.
The State alleges at around 6pm Prince Maphosa saw Shatei heading towards the Bomb Dump, but shortly, thereafter, a gunshot was heard coming from the direction he was headed to.
The following day, it is alleged Bokosha's body was discovered by Rudo Makaza covered with dry gumtree shrubs in a bushy area between Bomb Dump and Married Quarters.
In her testimony, Makaza said on April 26, she noticed that Bokosha, with whom she shared a room at Manyame Airbase, had not surrendered her Icam radio when her shift ended.
Makaza also realised that Bokosha had not slept in their room and went out to look for her at the Bomb Dumb, when she noticed some blood on the grass and later the body of the now-deceased.
The State is being represented by Albert Masamha, while Shatei is represented by Ignatious Goto.
The matter is yet to be finalised.
Source - newsday
