A Goromonzi man allegedly married his friend’s widow five days after suffocating and throwing her husband into a river, leaving him to die with his hands tied together with a piece of wire.
The suspect, Temba Lungu, is reportedly on the run, but his alleged accomplices Freza Wadson and Crispen Lungu denied the murder charge when their trial was wrapped up before High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera last week.
The pair was arrested in February last year in connection with the incident, which occurred on May 17, 2007.
It is alleged the trio murdered Charles Kuretu by tying his hands together with a piece of wire, shoved a T-shirt into his mouth, wrapped his head and face with a pair of trousers before throwing him into Pote River and leaving him to die.
Barely five days after Kuretu’s death, Temba started co-habiting with the deceased man’s wife, Neria Watson, until April 18, 2010, when they separated.
Kuretu’s body was discovered floating in the river by Zivanai George, who made a report to the police but efforts to locate his relatives proved fruitless, prompting police to accord him a pauper’s burial.
Neria told the court Temba confided in her that the body recovered floating in Pote River belonged to her husband and that she had given in to his love advances out of fear.
According to the State, on the day in question Temba invited Kuretu and his wife to his (Temba’s) parents’ home claiming the family wanted to resolve their marital disputes.
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While Kuretu sat in the kitchen together with his wife and Temba’s parents, Crispen suddenly stood up and grabbed him from behind.
At the same time Freza rushed to the kitchen wielding a wire which they allegedly used to tie up Kuretu’s hands from behind.
It is alleged Freza, Crispen and Temba took Kuretu to Pote River and before leaving the homestead they told Neria and Temba’s parents they were taking him to the police to have him charged with domestic violence.
But they allegedly threw him into the river and left him to die.
The pair’s lawyers are expected to file closing submissions following which Justice Mwayera will deliver judgment on the matter.
