Fugitive hooker 'killer' arraigned

A MAN who has been on the run since 2014 after allegedly killing a prostitute, has been arrested and hauled before the courts.

Noel Muronza, 39, of Matumba Village in Chivi appeared before Gweru Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda facing a murder charge.

Chibanda did not ask Muronza to plead and remanded him in custody to April 5.

Prosecuting, Lloyd Mavhisa told the court that on November 19, 2014, Muronzi and an accomplice, Enock Masanganise who is still at large, were coming from Mujaji Gold Mill and arrived at Greenvale Shopping Centre.

"Muronza approached Chinanadzi Nharira, a sex worker and solicited sex. They went to her house on two consecutive nights," said Mavhisa.

"Since he had no money to pay for Nharira's services, he gave her a cellphone which belonged to Masanganise and told her he would collect the phone when he brought her money."

Mavhisa said on the second day at around 5AM, Muronzi asked the sex worker to accompany him to a nearby farm where he demanded his phone.

Masanganise, the court heard, joined the two and also demanded the cellphone but Nharira refused to return it before she got her money.

"Muronzi and Masanganise allegedly started to kick and punch the now deceased. They hit her with a stone on the head and she died on the spot," said Mavhisa.

The court heard that the duo then fled the scene.