Before us is a shivering young boy perceptively, from his physical frame, aged between 15 and 17 years of age. The medical estimation report could not conclusively peg the teenager’s age. It estimated his age to be minus or plus 17 years. Shivering, not only from the novelty of the courtroom but because of his scanty apparel which comprises of khaki shorts, a sleeveless shirt and no jersey in the midst of the harshest winter month, June. He has been brought not from a juvenile detention centre but from an adult inmate holding facility. He is facing one count of... More
1)The offenders were indicted for trial on four counts of fraud as defined in s 136(a) and (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (“the Criminal Law Code”) and one count of money laundering as defined in s8(1)(a)(b) of the Money Laundering and proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24].
2)The fraud charges were preferred as counts 1, 3, 4 and 5 with the money laundering charged as count 2.
3)The offenders pleaded not guilty to all the counts. At the conclusion of the trial the following verdicts were returned: More
The two above named applicants are first and second accused persons in a criminal trial before me and two assessors on a charge of fraud as defined in s136 of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9.23]. The fraud charge emanates from the alleged use, by Blackdeck Livestock & Poultry (Pvt) Ltd (Blackdeck), of falsified documents as supporting documents, in a bid to secure a tender to supply 500 000 goats to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development for a Presidential Empowerment Scheme. The allegedly falsified documents, allegedly submitted with the bid for the purposes... More
The deceased James Jim died as a result of stab wounds inflicted upon him by the accused person on the 21st of July 2024. This is evidenced by the autopsy report filed of record disclosing the cause of death as haemothorax, collapsed lungs and stab wounds. Accused now appears before this court facing one count of murder as defined in s47 of the Criminal Law Code [Chapter 9:23]. Whilst admitting to fatally stabbing the deceased, the accused cites the defence of extreme provocation. More
The applicant was convicted with one count of stock theft and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment on 10 July 2023.
[2] He intends to note an appeal against sentence. He hit a brick wall once when he applied for condonation for late noting of an appeal and extension of time within which to appeal, the matter was struck off. He has filed this application and again it shall be struck off. The reasons boil down to lack of knowledge by the accused. This problem faces most inmates whether convicted or not. More
Apart from remedying the court a quo`s misdirection, this judgment restates three basic matters. Firstly, the procedure to follow in taking a plea of guilty in the magistrates` court in terms of sections 271 (2) (b) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [ Chapter 9:07] (“the CPE Act”). More
Professor Sigauke (the offender), appeared before a magistrate at Plumtree Court charged with the crime of ‘Smuggling’ as defined in section 182(1) of the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 23:02 [“the Act”]. He pleaded guilty and was duly convicted. The brief allegations were that on the 10 June 2025 and at Village 28 Dombodema, Plumtree he smuggled a Honda Fit vehicle chassis NO. GD11236569, engine NO. L13A1264375 from Botswana into Zimbabwe through an unauthorized point of entry. More
