News / National
'Cops bashing' madzibaba's bail bid flops
24 Jun 2015 at 10:32hrs | Views
The High Court has dismissed the latest bid by jailed Johanne Masowe Wechishanu apostolic sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa to secure freedom on bail.
The court ruled there are no prospects of success on appeal for the convicted felon.
Justice Garainesu Mawadza dismissed Chokurongerwa's application for bail pending appeal ruling that the lower court had properly assessed the credibility of the state witnesses' evidence and that he found no fault in the judgement of the lower court.
Justice Mawadza said it is not in dispute that public violence occurred at the Budiriro shrine resulting in the assault and subsequent injuries on police officers, journalists and members of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe while what was in dispute was Chokurongerwa's presence at the shrine.
He said Chokurongerwa in his defence outline failed to set grounds for the truthfulness of his alibi and failed to give all material facts relevant to his defence leaving the court to exercise its discretion.
On the sentence he said the 5-year jail term imposed on Chokurongerwa was commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, considering that people were seriously injured while state equipment was damaged.
He said the interests of due administration of justice and the rights of the appellant were balanced.
The court ruled there are no prospects of success on appeal for the convicted felon.
Justice Garainesu Mawadza dismissed Chokurongerwa's application for bail pending appeal ruling that the lower court had properly assessed the credibility of the state witnesses' evidence and that he found no fault in the judgement of the lower court.
He said Chokurongerwa in his defence outline failed to set grounds for the truthfulness of his alibi and failed to give all material facts relevant to his defence leaving the court to exercise its discretion.
On the sentence he said the 5-year jail term imposed on Chokurongerwa was commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, considering that people were seriously injured while state equipment was damaged.
He said the interests of due administration of justice and the rights of the appellant were balanced.
Source - zbc
