The trial of MDC-T youth leader Solomon Madzore and 28 other party activists charged with the murder of Police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View failed to continue yesterday after High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu excused himself to attend a relative’s funeral.
The trial is now set to resume today. The MDC-T activists have been in remand prison since their arrest last year. The ruling on their bail application was postponed indefinitely.
Since the opening of the trial early this month, several State witnesses including three policemen, have given what defence lawyers said was conflicting evidence during cross-examination by both the State and defence lawyers on circumstances surrounding Mutedza’s death. The first witness, Clever Chipiya, a Glen View 3 resident, said Mutedza died after being hit by a stone on the left side of his head. However, he did not see who threw the stone. Chipiya said he assisted in rendering first aid to Mutedza before he was ferried to Harare Central Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
However, another State witness, Joshua Daka, a police officer from Glen View, had a different version. He said Mutedza collapsed and died after he attempted to jump into a fleeing police vehicle and missed it.
Daka said when Mutedza attempted to open the vehicle’s passenger door, the vehicle sped off at high speed and he fell down heavily on the tarmac. The State has lined up 20 witnesses to give evidence.
