The accused appeared before us charged with murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. He tendered a plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to culpable homicide. The state accepted the limited plea. More
This is a review at the instance of the trial magistrate. The accused was charged with the crime of contravening section 89 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [Chapter 09:23] “Assault.” It being alleged that on the 9 January 2021 he unlawfully struck complainant with an axe on the head, and with a knobkerrie once on the mouth and several times on the left shoulder. More
1. This court is presently in the process of hearing evidence in this trial. The accused is indicted for the crime of murder, and the indict is formulated as follows: More
The accused person is charged with the crime of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. It being alleged that on the 27th August 2019, and at around Compouns in Firstar and Spring Farm, Llwellin, Bulawayo accused struck Tsisti Theodora Hove (deceased) with a brick on the head intending kill her or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause her death continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility. More
DUBE-BANDA J: The accused was arraigned before this Court on the 5th October 2020, on a charge of murder as defined in section 47(1) of the Criminal law [Codification and Reform] Act [Chapter 9:23]. It being alleged that on the 28th November 2019, and at Dunning Farm, Mberengwa, the accused person unlawfully caused the death of Memory Shumba (deceased), by assaulting her all over the body with switches, a strap and axe handle intending to kill her or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that her conduct may cause death and continued to engage in such conduct... More
The accused, Mr Macdonald Urayayi, is appearing before this court charged with the crime of murder as defined in section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (Criminal Code). It being alleged that on 25 September 2021 the accused unlawfully caused the death of Sharon Nyoni (deceased) by stabbing her on the chest with a knife intending to kill her or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause the death of the deceased and continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility. More
Maxim Matsetu who I will in this judgment call the convicted person appeared before a senior Magistrate at Mbare magistrate’s Court charged with the contravention of s 49 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap 9;23] (culpable homicide). He pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea. He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment of which 2 months were suspended on conditions of good behaviour. More
The accused is appearing before this court charged with the crime of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. It is alleged that on 30 May 2014 the accused unlawfully caused the death of Brian Moyo (deceased) by striking him with a log on the head intending to kill him or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause the death of the deceased and continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility. More
DUBE-BANDA J: The accused is charged with the crime of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) [Chapter 9:23]. It is alleged that on the 2nd February 2018, and at Village Mapiye, Chief Samambwa, Zhombe in the Midlands Province, accused unlawfully caused the death of Tariro Kambarami (deceased), by stabbing her with a spear several times on the head, chest and arms, intending to kill her or realising that there was a real or possibility that his conduct may cause her death and continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility. More
DUBE-BANDA J: The accused appears in this court on two counts of murder, as defined in section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Chapter 9:23.In count one, it being alleged that on the 8th January 2020, and at Village Madhiye, Chief Mazvihwa, Zvishavane, in the Province of Midlands, accused unlawfully caused the death of Blessed Hove (deceased 1) by striking her with an adze and stabbing her several times on the face, neck, legs, hands, stomach and back, intending to kill her or realising that there was a risk or possibility that his conduct may cause death and... More
This matter was placed before me on automatic review. The accused was charged with the crime of having sexual intercourse with a young person as defined in s 70(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (Criminal Law Code). Section 70 of the Criminal Law Code makes it a crime for anyone to have extra-marital sexual intercourse with a young person or to commit indecent acts with a young person. In this case it was alleged that the accused had unlawful extra marital sexual intercourse once with the complainant a girl under the age of sixteen. According... More
1. The accused person is charged with the crime of murder as defined in section 47 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. It being alleged that on the 26 May 2018,at Corner Helen Lane and Harold Road, Kensington he shot Tinashe Mutema (deceased) at the back and once on the lower backbone intending to kill him or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may causehisdeath continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility of death. More
1. This review is at the instance of the scrutinising Regional Magistrate. The accused was arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court sitting at Western Commonage, Bulawayo. He was charged with two counts, count 1 being the crime of contravening section 6(1) and 6(5) of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11] (No driver’s licence). It being alleged that on the 26 February 2022, and along Rangemore Road, opposite Pure Gas, inTshabalala, Bulawayo, accused drove a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence. More
DUBE-BANDA J: The accused appears in this court on a charge of murder, as defined in section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) [Chapter 9:23]. It being alleged that on the 10th May 2019, at Limon Ncube’s homestead, Sikhamaswe Village, Sun Yet Senthe accused stabbed LiazaNdlovu (deceased) once on the chest, once on the right palm, once on the right ear and once on the right side of the neck intending to kill her or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct may cause the death of the deceased continued to engage in... More
At the end of a criminal trial the court makes up its mind as to whether the State has proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt and that is what is normally contained in a judgment (See G Feltoe’s Magistrates’ Handbook Revised Edition 2021 at p 345). This implies a reasoned judgment. In this case, however, we acquitted the accused persons when, after a protracted trial when the Prosecutor General threw in the towel and exercised his prerogative to stop the prosecution in terms s 8(2) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9.07]. We gave our... More
