A 35-year-old suspected robber, accused of robbing a Bakers’ Inn truck driver and a Harare taxi driver at gun point, left the court in stitches on Tuesday when he appeared to have lost his mind in court.
Ironically named Brainmore Nyirenda, the man from Ruwa stunned the court when he went “hysterical”, claiming there were snakes in the courtroom as his alleged victims walked into court to testify.
Prior to the drama, Nyirenda had appeared normal, but he suddenly changed his demeanour when the witnesses walked into the courtroom.
“Remove all the snakes from your handbags, I am seeing snakes all over in this court,” Nyirenda shouted. “I work 39 hours a day and all these people in here cannot be accommodated in this spaceship, it is too small.”
Regional magistrate Estere Chivasa immediately ordered he be examined by two doctors to determine his mental status.
Nyirenda is being jointly charged with Fungai Wanenenga (30). The pair is alleged to have robbed a taxi driver, Chamunorwa Siwombe, at gunpoint on February 17 in Belvedere.
It is alleged on the day in question, Nyirenda and Wanenenga hired Siwombe’s taxi claiming they wanted to be taken to Belvedere.
At some point along Mutley Band Road in Belvedere, Nyirenda allegedly pointed a gun at him before ordering the taxi driver to stop the vehicle. The pair allegedly took the taxi and $41 from Siwombe leaving him stranded.
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They allegedly drove to Budiriro 3 where they pounced on Tinashe Dube who was delivering bread in a Bakers’ Inn truck.
Wanenenga, who was allegedly driving the stolen taxi, blocked Dube’s way while Nyirenda threatened to shoot Dube if he offered any resistance. Dube allegedly surrendered the $2 617 he had collected from clients and the suspects drove away with the loot. They later dumped the stolen taxi in Glen View 3 where it was recovered by police.
It was not clear in court papers how, where and when Nyirenda and Wanenenga were arrested. The court remanded them to April 16 pending results of Nyirenda’s mental examination.
