GWERU — A 24-year-old Shurugwi man, Garikai Mhangami, who murdered his girlfriend in cold blood has been slapped with a 30-year-jail term after High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda ruled that he had committed the offence with constructive intent.
In passing sentence, Justice Cheda, sitting with assessors Wellington Takawira and Jameson Lekese, said the court could have sentenced him to death or life imprisonment but had considered his age and extenuating circumstances surrounding the case.
The court identified the deceased woman as Sandra Tshuma. Area prosecutor Samuel Pedzisai told the court that on January 10 last year, Mhangami waylaid Tshuma as she walked home from a night spot in Shurugwi and struck her with an iron bar, killing her instantly.
The court heard the two had had a misunderstanding two weeks prior to the incident.
The following morning, Tshuma’s co-tenant Wendy Gatawa, found Tshuma’s body lying in a pool of blood with a bloodstained iron bar dumped at the site.
Gatawa immediately alerted neighbours and the police.
Police investigations led to Mhangami’s arrest. Three women who had conversed with Mhangami a few hours before her death testified against Mhangami.
