The accused was facing a charge of murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 to which he pleaded not guilty but tendered a plea of guilty to culpable homicide. The state accepted the limited plea. The agreed facts are that on 27 August 2022 at around 1845 hours the accused was on his way home from a party when he passed by the deceased’s home. The deceased struck him on the back with a sjambok ostensibly because the accused had once assaulted him. The deceased continued with the assault and the... More
Accused faces a charge of murder it being alleged that on 18 December 2021 at Village Madongorere, Chief Masunda, Zvishavane, he unlawfully caused the death of Jabulani Chingovo by stabbing him once on the abdomen. Accused pleaded not guilty to murder but tendered a limited plea to culpable homicide. More
This review is at the instance of the scrutinising Regional Magistrate. The accused was arraigned before the magistrates’ court sitting at Zvishavane, in the Midlands Province. He was charged with the crime of contravening s 3(1)(a) as read with s 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16]. It being alleged that on 16 November 2022 the accused committed physical abuse upon the complainant, his wife by striking her with a wooden log three times on the right arm and three times on the right leg. The complainant developed a swollen leg. The accused pleaded guilty and was duly convicted... More
KABASA J: The accused appeared before the learned provincial magistrate facing a total of 7 counts, the first two counts involved unlawful entry and theft, the 3rd and the 4th counts were also unlawful entry and theft as defined in section 131 (1) and 113 of the Criminal law Code. Counts 3 and 4 were withdrawn before plea and so there are no issues arising therefrom. More
DUBE-BANDA J:
[1] This is a review at the instance of the scrutinising Regional Magistrate. The accused was charged with two counts: viz count 1, physical abuse as defined in s 3(1)(a) as read with s 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16]. It being alleged that he kicked and slapped the complainant his wife several times all over the body. In count 2 he was charged with the crime of malicious damage to property as defined in s 3(1) (h) as read with s 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16]. It being alleged that the accused... More
The accused appeared before a Provincial Magistrate at Lupane facing one count of theft as defined in section 113 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23). The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment wholly suspended on condition accused restitutes the complainant the sum of $1 500 representing the value of the stolen goods. In addition accused was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment of which 3 months was suspended for 5 years on condition that accused does not commit an offence involving dishonesty as an element and for... More
The two accused were charged with the crime of murder. They pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of culpable homicide. It is alleged that the deceased who was husband to the 1st accused and father to the 2nd accused came home drunk. The statement of agreed facts filed by all 3 counsel reveals that the deceased picked up a quarrel with his wife the 1st accused who apparently had reported an earlier assault to the police. During the quarrel, the 1st accused left the couple’s bedroom and went to sleep with her daughter. The accused followed there and started... More
The accused person faces a charge of murder, it being alleged that on the 31st of January 2021 and in the accused’s bedroom at Nkayi District Hospital quarters in Nkayi, he unlawfully caused the death of Letwin Gotido by pouring methylated spirit on Letwin Gotido’s clothes and then lit a match and set her on fire thereby causing her death later on the 8th of March 2021 at Mpilo Central Hospital More
The two accused persons are facing a charge of murder. They deny the charge.
The state’s allegations were that the two accused were 33 and 28 years old respectively at the time of the murder. The deceased resided at number 20/633Mpopoma, Bulawayo and was 65 at the time he met his death.
On 5 June 2016 in the morning, the deceased went to work his sugarcane and vegetable garden at Steeldale industries in Bulawayo. He was putting on a pair of jean trousers, a brown T-shirt, brown safety shoes, black and a white jacket inscribed with the letter “J” at... More
Accused faces a charge of murder it being alleged that on the 7th of July 2019, he assaulted the deceased Mbonisi Nkomo by stabbing him with a hacksaw blade and thereby causing his death. Accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder but offered a limited plea to the charge of culpable homicide. The state counsel accepted the limited plea and the parties drew a state of agreed facts that was tendered and marked exhibit 1. It reads as follows: More
The accused person faces a charge of murder it being alleged that on the 2nd of October 2021 at Village Marawa, 1B, Nembudziya, Gokwe, he unlawfully caused the death of Shepherd Nzomba by hitting him once on the head with the back of an axe and further striking him once with an axe on the right cheek, once on the left cheek and once on the right side of the chest and thereby killing him. He pleaded not guilty and stated that he was acting in self defence. More
The 26 year old accused is facing a charge of murder in contravention of section 47 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act (Chapter) 9:23. The state alleges that on 2ndApril 2020 and at Gibson Ndlovu’s homestead, Xhanixhani Line, Tsholotsho the accused stabbed his 52 year old father three times in the stomach and once in the throat, with a knife, thereby causing his death. The accused admits the stabbing but avers that at the time of the commission of the offence he was suffering from mental illness and could not appreciate the consequences of his actions.... More
: This is an application for a discharge in terms of the provisions of section 198(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9:07]. At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, defence counsel applied for the discharge of the accused. The discharge was sought on the basis that at the closure of the State’s case there was no evidence against the accused person which required a reply from him. In terms of section 198(3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, [Chapter 9:07], the court shall return a verdict of not guilty if at the close of... More
The accused faces a charge of murder, it being alleged that on the 9th of October 2021 at Fanwell Dube’s homestead, he unlawfully caused the death of Fanwell Dube by striking him several times with a log on the head intending to kill him and thereby causing his death. Accused denies the charge but instead pleads guilty to culpable homicide. More
The accused is charged with murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. He pleaded not guilty.
The state alleges that on 6th July 2014 at around 0545 hours the now deceased “Tarisai” met the accused along an unnamed road in Spitzkop Gwanda and asked him about his memory card and cell phone. Earlier on the accused had taken Tarisai’s cell phone for repairs but failed to repair it. He however damaged the touch pad and gave the cell phone back minus the memory card. Upon being asked about the cell phone... More
