Mujuru coroner erred

THE saga surrounding the death of the late general Solomon Mujuru is far from over despite the release of inquest findings to the Mujuru family as lawyers now allege that the coroner erred in his findings when he proclaimed that the retired soldier was not murdered.
Lawyers representing the Mujuru family are of the opinion that magistrate Walter Chikwanha who sat as coroner during the inquest, had overwhelming evidence pointing to a suspicious death that the least he could have done was to recommend a second autopsy.
Vice-President Joyce Mujuru's family lawyer, Thakhor Kewada, cited the fact that evidence brought in by Cuban doctor, Gabriel Aguero Alvero, who conducted the post-mortem, was conflicting and he was not legally registered to practice in Zimbabwe as a clear example pointing to the need to exhaust all channels before declaring that Mujuru was not murdered.
Vice-President Mujuru is wife to the late national hero.
"Yes, I have seen the report and I believe the magistrate erred in his findings. He virtually supports all witnesses saying they did a good job. He (the magistrate) says, for example, it was not their fault that the evidence was contaminated yet it was their duty to make sure such evidence is secured properly," said Kewada.
"What really bothers me most of all is the pathologist's report," added Kewada referring to Alvero whom he said was inconsistent in his evidence during the inquest.
In an earlier interview with this newspaper, Kewada said having looked at Alvero's post-mortem report, he noticed some glaring errors. 
"The report said both lower limbs were cut off, but the photographs showed a different story. I asked him (Alvero) did he see the ring in the left hand and he said he did, yet he had earlier said the arms were also cut off," explained a frustrated Kewada.
In Kewada's opinion, such inconsistencies and the contamination of evidence was enough for the magistrate to raise a red flag on the inquest.
Questions have been asked whether Alvero was qualified enough to conduct the autopsy in the first place with allegations that papers reflecting his qualifications could not be found.
Also, varying testimonies were made during the inquest. 
Mujuru's maid, for example, reported hearing gunshots well before the fire that burnt Mujuru's body beyond recognition in August last year, broke out. Private security guards about 300 metres from the house also thought that they had heard shots, but could not be sure. 
The police officers guarding Mujuru's farmhouse from about 20 metres away claimed to have either been asleep or to have heard nothing. 
Similarly, while the security guard manning the entrance to the farmhouse said that Mujuru had been accompanied by another man in the front passenger seat, police officers at the farm told the court that Mujuru was alone, but added that there had been a jacket hanging in the car.
Last week, Kewada said VP Mujuru's family is convinced that the liberation war hero died before the fire started, but at the moment, one can only speculate how he died.