News / Regional
'Murderous car thieves' await Fools' Day judgment
25 Mar 2016 at 11:51hrs | Views
TWO carjackers lured a Filabusi man into a bush and allegedly robbed him of his car, before killing him and then dumping the body in a disused mineshaft to conceal the crime, a High Court judge has heard.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo heard this when Edgar Majasi,32, of Khohli village in Gokwe and Precious Nkomo, 34, of Godlwayo village in Filabusi appeared before her on Wednesday facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Alphious Mabhena, 42.
They were remanded in custody to April 1 for judgment.
A state witness, Lazarus Gwerena, in his testimony, told the court that he last saw Mabhena alive when he was in the company of Majasi and Nkomo.
"The last time I saw Mabhena was sometime towards the end of August, 2011, and he was in the company of Majasi and Nkomo who indicated that they intended to supply him with explosives. They drove towards Siboza area and later I was informed by police that his remains were retrieved from a shaft in Siboza following indications by Majasi and Nkomo," said Gwerena.
Another witness, Evans Mangisi, said he was approached by the two men on October 2,2011, who sought to be assisted with repairs on the late Mabhena's allegedly stolen car, a South African registered Toyota Hilux.
Mangisi said Majasi and Nkomo claimed that the car belonged to their brother.
"They told me that they had been involved in an accident and wanted to have it repaired for the damages," he said.
Prosecuting, Thompson Hove, said on August 29, 2011, Majasi and Nkomo connived and lured Mabhena into a secluded place on the pretext that they had discovered a rich goldfield which they wanted him to explore. Mabhena agreed and they drove to the area where the two claimed to have discovered the mine.
The court heard that soon after disembarking from the car, Majasi and Nkomo, armed with iron rods, attacked Mabhena several times all over his body until he died. They then threw the body into a disused mine shaft to conceal the alleged crime.
Mabhena's wife, Sakhelene Ndlovu filed a missing person report when she failed to locate her husband.
Majasi and Nkomo pleaded not guilty. Through their lawyer, Norman Mangena, they said they bought the car from Mabhena following a verbal agreement. They claimed that they gave him 100 grammes of gold in exchange for the car valued at $11,000.
They also claimed that they were forced to append their signatures on the warned and cautioned statement to admit the crime after they were allegedly tortured by police on their genitals.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo heard this when Edgar Majasi,32, of Khohli village in Gokwe and Precious Nkomo, 34, of Godlwayo village in Filabusi appeared before her on Wednesday facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Alphious Mabhena, 42.
They were remanded in custody to April 1 for judgment.
A state witness, Lazarus Gwerena, in his testimony, told the court that he last saw Mabhena alive when he was in the company of Majasi and Nkomo.
"The last time I saw Mabhena was sometime towards the end of August, 2011, and he was in the company of Majasi and Nkomo who indicated that they intended to supply him with explosives. They drove towards Siboza area and later I was informed by police that his remains were retrieved from a shaft in Siboza following indications by Majasi and Nkomo," said Gwerena.
Another witness, Evans Mangisi, said he was approached by the two men on October 2,2011, who sought to be assisted with repairs on the late Mabhena's allegedly stolen car, a South African registered Toyota Hilux.
Mangisi said Majasi and Nkomo claimed that the car belonged to their brother.
"They told me that they had been involved in an accident and wanted to have it repaired for the damages," he said.
Prosecuting, Thompson Hove, said on August 29, 2011, Majasi and Nkomo connived and lured Mabhena into a secluded place on the pretext that they had discovered a rich goldfield which they wanted him to explore. Mabhena agreed and they drove to the area where the two claimed to have discovered the mine.
The court heard that soon after disembarking from the car, Majasi and Nkomo, armed with iron rods, attacked Mabhena several times all over his body until he died. They then threw the body into a disused mine shaft to conceal the alleged crime.
Mabhena's wife, Sakhelene Ndlovu filed a missing person report when she failed to locate her husband.
Majasi and Nkomo pleaded not guilty. Through their lawyer, Norman Mangena, they said they bought the car from Mabhena following a verbal agreement. They claimed that they gave him 100 grammes of gold in exchange for the car valued at $11,000.
They also claimed that they were forced to append their signatures on the warned and cautioned statement to admit the crime after they were allegedly tortured by police on their genitals.
Source - chronicle
