News / National
Murderer survives death sentence
31 Aug 2015 at 12:16hrs | Views
A 27-year-old Chinhoyi man has been spared a death sentence owing to inadequacies in the new constitution on the imposition of the death penalty.
Godknows Mandizvidza will spend life in prison after being convicted of murdering a 53-year-old woman from Mafuta village under Chief Magonde in Chinhoyi in November 2007.
After a fully contested trial, it was established that Mandizvidza brutally killed her neighbour, the now deceased Spiwe Mafura and robbed her of her possessions.
The deceased's body was found in an advanced state of decomposition by a neighbour who alerted others and the police.
Justice Garainesu Mawadze convicted Mandizvidza of murder with actual intent, saying the murder was premeditated and carefully planned.
The convict escaped the death sentence with the judge saying there is no clarity on the circumstances that qualify to be called aggravating as is required under the new constitution.
The new supreme law stipulates that the death penalty can only be handed down when a murder is committed under such circumstances.
Source - zbc
