News / National
Dudu Manhenga gets 18 months behind bars
11 Oct 2013 at 19:21hrs | Views
Jazz sensation Duduzile Manhenga will spend the next 18 months in jail after she was found guilty of culpable homicide.
On Friday, Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi sentenced Manhenga to 24-months in jail and fined her $300 for driving with a learners licence without supervision, ZimbabweFocus reported.
Six-months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Murwisi said Manhenga's blameworthiness was very high and as such the court was called upon to send a clear message to would be offenders.
Her lawyer pleaded for a fine while prosecutor Barbra Ndoro urged the court to impose a custodial sentence.
The State case was that on March 15, 2010 around 14:15 hours, Manhenga was driving a Toyota Spacio along Sherwood Drive.
The now deceased, Graham Martin Millward was riding his motorbike along the same road, but coming from the opposite direction.
The court heard that Manhenga turned right to a house in Mabelreign in front of oncoming motorbike.
Millward was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was taken to West End Hospital where he died on admission.
His motorbike is also said to have been seriously damaged.
The State proved that Manhenga turned right in front of oncoming traffic and failed to keep a proper lookout on the road ahead.
It further alleged that she failed to stop or act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent.
Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the court on Thursday as Manhenga hugged friends and relatives while weeping.
On Friday, Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi sentenced Manhenga to 24-months in jail and fined her $300 for driving with a learners licence without supervision, ZimbabweFocus reported.
Six-months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Murwisi said Manhenga's blameworthiness was very high and as such the court was called upon to send a clear message to would be offenders.
Her lawyer pleaded for a fine while prosecutor Barbra Ndoro urged the court to impose a custodial sentence.
The State case was that on March 15, 2010 around 14:15 hours, Manhenga was driving a Toyota Spacio along Sherwood Drive.
The court heard that Manhenga turned right to a house in Mabelreign in front of oncoming motorbike.
Millward was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was taken to West End Hospital where he died on admission.
His motorbike is also said to have been seriously damaged.
The State proved that Manhenga turned right in front of oncoming traffic and failed to keep a proper lookout on the road ahead.
It further alleged that she failed to stop or act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent.
Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the court on Thursday as Manhenga hugged friends and relatives while weeping.
Source - zimbabwefocus.com
