News / National
Dudu Manhenga to appeal jail sentence
13 Oct 2013 at 06:10hrs | Views
Jailed afro-jazz musician Dudu Manhenga will lodge an appeal against the 18-month sentence she received last week following her conviction on a culpable homicide charge, her husband has revealed.
In a brief interview yesterday, Manhenga's husband, Mr Blessing Muparutsa, told The Sunday Mail that the singer's lawyers were drafting appeal papers.
"Yes, we are working on appealing against the sentence but that is all I can say now," said Muparutsa.
Harare magistrate Ms Blessing Murwisi convicted Manhenga on her own guilty plea over a March 15, 2010, road traffic accident in which a motorcyclist was killed.
The singer pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and driving with a learner driver's licence without supervision. Ms Murwisi sentenced the jazz sensation to a 24-month custodial sentence.
Ms Murwisi suspended six months for five years on condition that Manhenga does not commit a similar offence. She was further fined US$300 (or three months in prison) for driving without supervision.
The musician is currently languishing in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison pending the appeal. In passing sentence, Ms Murwisi said Manhenga was grossly negligent and failed to act reasonably resulting in the accident, which left Mr Graham Martin Millward dead.
"Her moral blameworthiness was high, although she is a first offender," she said.
"The crime was aggravated by the fact that she turned right, knocking down a motorcyclist.
"She failed to keep a proper look out of the road ahead and also failed to stop or act reasonably in the event of the accident, this is clear gross negligence."
In a brief interview yesterday, Manhenga's husband, Mr Blessing Muparutsa, told The Sunday Mail that the singer's lawyers were drafting appeal papers.
"Yes, we are working on appealing against the sentence but that is all I can say now," said Muparutsa.
Harare magistrate Ms Blessing Murwisi convicted Manhenga on her own guilty plea over a March 15, 2010, road traffic accident in which a motorcyclist was killed.
The singer pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and driving with a learner driver's licence without supervision. Ms Murwisi sentenced the jazz sensation to a 24-month custodial sentence.
The musician is currently languishing in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison pending the appeal. In passing sentence, Ms Murwisi said Manhenga was grossly negligent and failed to act reasonably resulting in the accident, which left Mr Graham Martin Millward dead.
"Her moral blameworthiness was high, although she is a first offender," she said.
"The crime was aggravated by the fact that she turned right, knocking down a motorcyclist.
"She failed to keep a proper look out of the road ahead and also failed to stop or act reasonably in the event of the accident, this is clear gross negligence."
Source - Sunday Mail
