The two accused persons appeared in this court facing a charge of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. They were 23 and 19 years old respectively at the time of the commission of the offence. The deceased Nkosikhona Gumbo was 19 at the time he met his death..
It was alleged by the state that on 26 December 2018 at about 0200 hours the 1st accused met deceased in the vicinity of Mpumelelo General Dealer’s shop at Mathe Business Centre in Tsholotsho. The two had an unknown unresolved grudge. It... More
The accused was charged with the murder of the deceased in contravention of s 47 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap 9; 23]. The state alleged that she set the deceased on fire intending to cause his death. She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The brief facts on which the charge was based are that the accused and the deceased lived together for four years, as husband and wife though they were not married to each other. They separated leading, to the accused, leaving the deceased’s house to go and rent a cabin at... More
The accused person was charged with theft in contravention of s 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap 9:23]. He pleaded guilty, and was convicted on his own plea. He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, of which 3 months were suspended on conditions of good behaviour.
The record of proceedings was referred for, scrutiny by a Regional Magistrate. The Regional Magistrate raised an issue on the propriety of the accused‘s conviction because the record revealed the following exchange between the accused and the trial magistrate during the canvassing of essential elements. More
The accused persons were convicted by a Regional Magistrate for contravening ss 131 and 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap 9.23] herein-after called the Code. They unlawfully entered the complainant’s premises and stole property from his house and a motor vehicle from his premises. They pleaded guilty to the charges, and were convicted. They were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, of which 6 years was suspended on conditions of good behaviour. Both counts were treated as one for sentence. More
The first and second accused pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder as defined in s 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap 9:23]. The state, alleged, that they, murdered the deceased on 18 November 2008. The deceased was their paternal grandfather. They were staying with him in Mhondoro. Their father had died, and their mother stays in Epworth in Harare. More
The accused pleaded not guilty to a charge of contravening section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act [Cap 9:23]. He is alleged to have stabbed the deceased with a sharp object under the armpit leading to his death.
In his defence outline the accused denied the charge, and explained the circumstances of the deceased’s death as follows. He on 15 February 2009 met Victoria Laura Dhlamini at Fife Avenue Shopping Centre, and arranged a date with her for that afternoon. He picked her up from her parents’ house at No 2 Barrington Close Waterfalls, and went with... More
This record of proceedings was submitted for review by the Chief Magistrate on 29 May 2007. On 31 May 2007, Messrs Hungwe and Partners, acting for the accused person, also wrote to the Registrar seeking the urgent review of this matter. More
This matter was dealt with on 7 June 2023 and the accused was released on a warrant of liberation on the 23 June 2023 on the basis of a review minute that I prepared. However given the facts of the matter I felt compelled to write this judgment despite the passage of time. More
On 1st of January 2021 and at 0100 hours the accused and the deceased were celebrating New Year’sday at Phokuhle Nyoni’s homestead at Dromoland, Inyathi. Also in attendance were Imanathi Ndlovu, Vusumuzi Moyo and Clement Moyo. At around 0400 hours when others had retired to bed, accused in the company of his co-accused, Vusumuzi and Clement took the deceased to Mtshoko Dam where they assaulted him with an axe and bricks on the head. The deceased died as a result of injuries sustained in the assault. The body was discovered by Livious Ndlovu on the edge of the dam the... More
On the 25th September 2017 around 22:00 hours and at Nubobs 27 Mine, Mphoengs the accused had a misunderstanding with the deceased. The accused stabbed the deceased eleven times all over the body with an Okapi knife. The deceased’s stomach was ripped open leaving the intestines protruding. The deceased was also stabbed in the testicles. The accused fled the scene of the crime. Deceased was rushed to Plumtree District Hospital. He was later transferred to United Bulawayo Hospitals. He died on 27th September 2017 as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. More
The accused is a female adult aged 54 years old. She appears in this court on a charge of murder. It is alleged that on the 18th March 2015 at Coolmoreen Farm Gweru accused unlawfully and intentionally caused the death of Rejoice Moyo a female aged 3 years by striking her all over the body with a switch or other similar object thereby causing her death. The accused denies the allegations of murder. She tenders a limited plea of guilty with respect to the lessor charge of culpable homicide. The state accepts the limited plea. More
On 14th August 2018 in the evening hours the deceased arrived home from a beer drink and found accused and his second wife preparing food on a fire place. The deceased who was visibly drunk proceeded to kick a zinc metal sheet that was used to shield wind from extinguishing the fire. Deceased demanded his items which were missing. A misunderstanding ensued between the deceased and accused. The deceased was accused’s biological son. Theaccused threatenedto assault the deceased with a hammer. Sensing danger, the accused’s wife ran to a neighbour’s residence seeking assistance. During the scuffle that ensued the accused... More
The two accused persons appeared in this court charged with two (2) counts of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, it being alleged that on 16 October 2010 and at Chomuzi island, in the Zambezi river, Victoria Falls, the two accused persons caused the deaths of Abel and Dennis Ngandu by drowning, ordering them to swim across the Zambezi river from the Zimbabwean side to the Zambian side intending to kill them or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that their conduct may cause the deaths of... More
The accused person faces a charge of murder, it being alleged that on the 26th November 2018, in Gweru, he unlawfully caused the death of Lucy Duve by striking her with an unknown object on the head and also used booted feet, fists and open hands to assault her all over the body several times, intending to kill her or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause her death but nonetheless continued in such conduct.
The following were tendered as exhibits before the court:-
1) the state summary
2) the defence outline
3)... More
