Teen kills aunt, violates her corpse

High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi has delivered a scathing rebuke of increasingly horrific crimes in Zimbabwe, saying recent cases suggest that the world may be nearing its end. His comments came as he sentenced 19-year-old Tapiwa Mereka to life in prison for the brutal rape and murder of his aunt, Mary Mereka, in one of the most disturbing cases to come before the courts in recent memory.

Justice Mutevedzi, presiding at the Gweru High Court, said the gruesome crime revealed a level of depravity that defied comprehension - warning that judges and court officials may need psychological support to deal with the traumatic nature of such cases.

"If it is true that one day God will destroy the world, then that time is near. Some of the crimes we see suggest that Armageddon is imminent," said Mutevedzi.

According to court evidence, Tapiwa Mereka had long harboured sexual desires for his aunt and plotted her assault and murder in advance. On January 27, 2023, while working with her in the fields, he struck her three times on the head with an axe, leaving her in a vegetative state, before raping her. He then redressed her, disposed of the weapon, and fled the scene intending to hide in Sebakwe River.

In his warned and cautioned statement, Mereka chillingly admitted to having fantasized about the act days before carrying it out, revealing a level of premeditation and perversion that left the courtroom in disbelief.

"Tapiwa Mereka has a head but it is doubtful that he has a brain inside it," Justice Mutevedzi remarked.
"The crime he committed is unconscionable and would possibly win an Oscar for horror movies."

The judge added that the act, even if the victim had already died before the rape, would still have constituted the crime of violating a corpse - an offence in Zimbabwe under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, and recognized as necrophilia in other jurisdictions.

Justice Mutevedzi ruled that due to the gravity of the crime and the offender's disturbing mindset, only life imprisonment was suitable. He noted that although Zimbabwe no longer enforces the death penalty for such cases, the offence would have otherwise warranted capital punishment.

"What is worse is that he admitted being prepared to kill for no reason," the judge said.
"He is someone whose soul must be left to God's judgment. The court can only administer justice."

Mutevedzi described Mereka as a dangerous individual who posed a significant threat to society, stating that releasing him would put others - particularly strangers and children - at risk.

Beyond the sentencing, Mutevedzi took the unusual step of addressing the emotional toll such cases take on court officials.

"Everyone who took part in the trial will be thinking about this for a long time," he said.
"Judicial officers and court officials who hear these horrific stories daily may suffer vicarious trauma and require therapy in one form or another."

The case has sparked broader conversations about mental health within Zimbabwe's justice system, as legal professionals increasingly encounter harrowing details of violent crime.

The life sentence brings closure to a shocking case that has horrified the nation and deepened public concern over escalating brutality, especially involving young offenders.