Man in court over girlfriend's murder

A 44-year-old Harare man has appeared in court facing murder charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend during a domestic dispute that later resulted in her death.

Kenneth Chendambuya of Tarisa Park, Ruwa, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Lynne Chinzou and was not asked to plead. He was remanded in custody pending indictment before the High Court.

The State alleges that on June 1 at around 10:30pm, Chendambuya went to a bar where his 33-year-old girlfriend, Shamiso Kandalasi, was drinking. The pair were reportedly in a romantic relationship.

A misunderstanding allegedly escalated into a physical altercation in which Chendambuya is accused of assaulting Kandalasi with open hands and striking her with an empty beer bottle, causing her to fall.

He is further alleged to have strangled her while witnesses intervened and managed to restrain him.

According to the prosecution, Kandalasi later went home in pain, after which Chendambuya reportedly followed her and subsequently took her to Mabvuku Polyclinic, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The case is expected to proceed to the High Court for trial once investigations are complete.