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Setback for man accused of raping Mai Jeremaya
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One of the two men accused of allegedly raping social media star Mai Jeremaya suffered a setback yesterday when his application for discharge at the close of the State case was dismissed by magistrate Letwin Rwodzi. Thabo Blessing Dube had urged the court to acquit him on the grounds that the State had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. However, the magistrate ruled that the case would proceed to the defence.
Following the ruling, Dube took the stand as the first defence witness, stating that his role was merely to facilitate a meeting between Mai Jeremaya and his co-accused, Martin Charlie. Dube denied entering the lodge or participating in any sexual activity as alleged by the prosecution.
A lodge manager from Paradise Lodges in Eastlea then testified, providing key details about the day in question. The manager, responsible for overseeing lodges 11 and 15 on Frank Johnson Road, explained that the facility's security cameras showed Charlie arriving at the reception in a silver GD6 vehicle. According to the manager, guests cannot access rooms without paying at the reception first, and records indicated that Charlie was allocated room number six.
When asked by defence lawyer Shepherd Makonde whether there was any alternative entrance to the rooms, the manager confirmed that all rooms have a single entrance and no other external doors.
Makonde subsequently tendered video footage of the lodge captured on the date of the alleged incident as evidence.
The State alleges that on April 9, Dube contacted Mai Jeremaya to arrange a meeting which did not take place. On April 30, Mai Jeremaya received a WhatsApp message from Charlie inviting her to meet. They met along Samora Machel Avenue and proceeded to lodge number 11 on Frank Johnson Road. Charlie is said to have briefly left the building under the pretense of seeing his boss, returning with a woman named Sbahle. The trio then drove to town where Sbahle was dropped off before returning to lodge number 15 on Frank Johnson Avenue.
The prosecution's case claims that both accused men took turns raping Mai Jeremaya.
The trial is set to resume on Monday.
Following the ruling, Dube took the stand as the first defence witness, stating that his role was merely to facilitate a meeting between Mai Jeremaya and his co-accused, Martin Charlie. Dube denied entering the lodge or participating in any sexual activity as alleged by the prosecution.
A lodge manager from Paradise Lodges in Eastlea then testified, providing key details about the day in question. The manager, responsible for overseeing lodges 11 and 15 on Frank Johnson Road, explained that the facility's security cameras showed Charlie arriving at the reception in a silver GD6 vehicle. According to the manager, guests cannot access rooms without paying at the reception first, and records indicated that Charlie was allocated room number six.
When asked by defence lawyer Shepherd Makonde whether there was any alternative entrance to the rooms, the manager confirmed that all rooms have a single entrance and no other external doors.
The State alleges that on April 9, Dube contacted Mai Jeremaya to arrange a meeting which did not take place. On April 30, Mai Jeremaya received a WhatsApp message from Charlie inviting her to meet. They met along Samora Machel Avenue and proceeded to lodge number 11 on Frank Johnson Road. Charlie is said to have briefly left the building under the pretense of seeing his boss, returning with a woman named Sbahle. The trio then drove to town where Sbahle was dropped off before returning to lodge number 15 on Frank Johnson Avenue.
The prosecution's case claims that both accused men took turns raping Mai Jeremaya.
The trial is set to resume on Monday.
Source - H-Metro
