The escalation of domestic violence cases remains cause for concern. The brouhaha which resulted in the tragic death of the Tineyi Mamvura (the deceased) was a direct consequence of domestic violence. Takudzwa Timothy Hazvirambwi stands accused of killing his best friend. The allegations are that on 2 May 2022 at No. 1220 Makomo Extension in Epworth the accused unlawfully and with intent to kill or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct could lead to death and continuing to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility assaulted the deceased with fists and strangled... More
If it is true that on some day God will destroy the world, then that time is nigh. Some of the crimes that we preside over suggest that Armageddon is imminent. Tapiwa Mereka (the offender) has a head but it is doubtful that he has a brain inside it. If he does, then his mind is so perverted and depraved that he should not be living amongst human beings. The crime that he committed is unconscionable and would possibly win an Oscar award for horror movies. Every one of us who took part in the trial would be thinking about... More
The proceedings in this matter were referred by the scrutinising regional magistrate for review by a judge of this court in terms of s 58 of the Magistrates Court Act, [Chapter 7:10]. The scrutinizing regional magistrate was in doubt on whether the proceedings were in accordance with real and substantial justice when he scrutinized them. The scrutinizing regional magistrate raised two issues one of which was resolved in circumstances of a suspicion raised on the integrity of the learned trial magistrate More
The records of proceedings of these 7 cases were placed before me for review in terms of section 29 (4) of the High Court Act [Cap 7:06]. The sentence imposed in each case is not subject to automatic scrutiny or review. The Provincial Magistrate Mutare, picked them up during Criminal Record Book checks. The sentences imposed follow a disturbing pattern. A uniform sentence was imposed for cases whose circumstances, seriousness, mitigatory and aggravatory factors vary so greatly that it is inconceivable that they could be punishable by the imposition of the same sentence. More
The accused persons are charged with murder of a policeman in the course of duty on 29 May 2011.
This has been a protracted trial fraught with applications and counter applications. The state has now applied for a two week postponement of the trial to facilitate the calling of an expert witness, a foreign doctor who conducted the post-mortem on the remains of the deceased. There are certain protocols and procedures that have to be fulfilled before the foreign doctor can testify before our local courts.The long and short of it all is that he can only testify with the... More
The accused persons stand charged with murder as defined in s 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Cap. 9:23]. In the alternative or concurrently they are charged with public violence as defined in s 36 of the Act. This seemingly unending marathon trial has now entered the home stretch to the relief of everyone concerned following the closure of the state case. More
The 2 accused persons face a charge of murder, it being alleged that on the 19th of November 2017 at Insiza bus stop along the Bulawayo-Harare highway they fatally assaulted Chibhase Chinamasa with an axe handle thereby causing his death from the injuries sustained in that assault. The state tendered the following into the court record .
- the state summary.
- the affidavit of the police officer who identified the deceased’s body to the pathologist.
- the post mortem report which gives the cause of death as peritonitis, raptured small bowel, blunt force trauma.
- both accused’s confirmed warned... More
Both accused persons are facing a charge of murder as defined in s 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, [Cap 9:23]. The charge is that on 19 May 2017 at about 7 km peg along the Roy – Gutu road in Masvingo each or both of the accused in the company of one Nyasha Sango who is at large caused the death of Phio Jeketera by stabbing him with an okapi knife in the course of a robbery. More
The gods should have literally smiled at the accused in this matter when he appeared before the trial Magistrate at Chivi. Indeed the accused was treated with kid gloves to say the least as a manifestly lenient sentence was imposed. The accused seemed to have continued to ride his luck as the learned scrutinising Regional Magistrate despite initial well founded reservations nonetheless was apparently persuaded to confirm the proceedings as in accordance with real and substantial justice!! More
At the close of the defence cases for accused persons both Mr Mutema for accused 1 and Mr O Mafa for accused 2 indicated that they had no closing submissions either orally or written to make. Indeed, their stance may be understandable. The case for both accused persons is not an easy one to say the least. It is only Mr Mbavarira for the state who filed written closing submissions. More
The tragic events in this matter unfolded on the new year’s day being 1 January 2017, a day normally associated with merry making, at Bhuka business centre a few kilometres outside Masvingo town along the Masvingo to Beit Bridge highway. More
The accused persons who all reside in Hurungwe under Chief Nematombo were initially jointly charged with two other accomplices who absconded. The State opted to separate the trials and proceed with the three accused before the court. More
The two accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder which occurred on 15 February, 2018 at a place between Cotton Company of Zimbabwe and Mashonaland Tobacco, along Bulawayo – Harare Railway line adjacent to Lytton Road. The place is a known hangout for day prostitutes, drug peddlars and other unlawful vices which occur there. More
The accused is facing a charge of murder as defined in s 47 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. The allegations are that on 21 January 2019 and at Catsiba Farm Chipinge, the accused unlawfully caused the death of Kozanayi Musekeya by shooting him with a rifle intending to kill Kozanayi Musekeya or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct might cause death and continued to engage in that conduct despite the risk or possibility resulting in injuries from which Kozanayi Musekeya died. More
he accused was convicted of contravening s 49 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23]. He was sentenced to $300 in default of payment 30 days imprisonment. In addition 30 days imprisonment was wholly suspended on condition of future good behaviour. More
