Four suspected murderers, who fatally assaulted a rape suspect before carrying him to Matobo Police Station — have been granted $100 bail each. The suspect died two months ago.
Brothers Johnson and Chamakandiwa Mudzingenyama (aged 38 and 48 respectively), Trynos Sibanda and Phinias Musungwa (ages not given), were remanded to January 9 next year when they appeared in court for routine remand on Tuesday.
Besides the bail money, the suspects were ordered to continue staying at their given addresses until the matter is finalised. They would report once every week at the nearest police station.
They were also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.
It is alleged that on September 18 around 7am, at Plot 51 Keishenburg Farm in Gweru, a female villager told Musungwa and Sibanda that the deceased, Elson Patsika, had attempted to rape her daughter.
The pair allegedly effected a citizen’s arrest on Patsika and took him to Broomridge 4 Farm to inform the alleged victim’s father of the incident. It is the State case that on their way to the farm, the two repeatedly assaulted Patsika with sticks and logs all over the body.
After narrating the ordeal to the alleged victim’s father, the pair continued to beat him up and were later joined by the Chamakandiwa brothers. The court heard the beatings only stopped after Patsika fell unconscious.
The suspects threw him into a wheelbarrow and rushed to Matobo police base where they intended to formally file the rape charge. By then Patsika could neither talk nor stand on his own due to the alleged battering.
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He later succumbed to the injuries as police rushed him to Gweru General Hospital. The four were immediately arrested and charged with murder.
A post mortem report confirmed Patsika died due to asphyxiation, respiration problems and assault. Michael Mhene prosecuted.
