News / National
Harare 'witches' bail appeal dismissed
26 Sep 2013 at 19:06hrs | Views
The High Court has thrown out the bail appeal for the two suspected 'witches' who caused a stir in Harare's Budiriro suburb early this month.
High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa said he could not hear the merits of the bail appeal seeking release for Maria Moyo (30) and Chipo Chijaka (26) from Gokwe Nembudzia, as the application by the two's legal representatives Tawanda Takaindisa was improper.
Justice Musakwa took Takaindisa to task over his failure to explain to the court how the magistrate who presided over the initial application misdirected himself and struck off the bail appeal from the court roll.
Moyo and Chijaka both initially pleaded guilty to charges associated with witchcraft practices when they appeared before Mbare magistrate Reuben Mukhavi.
Mr Mukhavi however altered their plea to not guilty, suspecting the two might be suffering from mental problems.
The ruling is in support of the state's view as asserted by Edmore Nyazamba who opposed the duo's release, arguing the application was not proper before the court on the basis that the application was incurably defective as it lacked the essentials of a bail application.
High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa said he could not hear the merits of the bail appeal seeking release for Maria Moyo (30) and Chipo Chijaka (26) from Gokwe Nembudzia, as the application by the two's legal representatives Tawanda Takaindisa was improper.
Justice Musakwa took Takaindisa to task over his failure to explain to the court how the magistrate who presided over the initial application misdirected himself and struck off the bail appeal from the court roll.
Moyo and Chijaka both initially pleaded guilty to charges associated with witchcraft practices when they appeared before Mbare magistrate Reuben Mukhavi.
Mr Mukhavi however altered their plea to not guilty, suspecting the two might be suffering from mental problems.
The ruling is in support of the state's view as asserted by Edmore Nyazamba who opposed the duo's release, arguing the application was not proper before the court on the basis that the application was incurably defective as it lacked the essentials of a bail application.
Source - zbc
