Two police officers based at Mabelreign Police Station allegedly escaped death by a whisker and were sent scampering for cover after an Air Force of Zimbabwe officer fired two gunshots at them when they came to his house to investigate a domestic dispute involving the AFZ officer and his wife.
The suspect, Patrick Mubaiwa (41) appeared before regional magistrate Clever Tsikwa last week facing attempted murder charges and another charge of pointing a firearm.
The incident allegedly occurred on April 29 this year following a domestic dispute between Mubaiwa and his wife, Rudo Chigumira.
The State alleges on the day in question, the police officers, Patrick Bernard and Stephen Kazombe, were investigating reports that Mubaiwa had threatened to kill both his wife and her mother.
It is alleged his wife had fled from their matrimonial home.
On the day in question, Mubaiwa allegedly called Chigumira and ordered her to return home, failure which he would kill her and her mother.
Chigumira reported her husband’s threats to the police, prompting Bernard and Kazombe to go to Chigumira’s mother’s house where they intended to arrest Mubaiwa if he arrived there.
At around 6pm, Mubaiwa allegedly drove to the house in the company of his sister and his brother-in-law.
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Upon arrival, Mubaiwa’s sister proceeded to persuade Chigumira to return home while her husband and Mubaiwa remained in the vehicle.
It is alleged when the police officers approached the vehicle to arrest Mubaiwa, they only found his brother-in-law in the car as Mubaiwa had hidden at a nearby footpath.
The court heard that as the cops walked back into the yard, Mubaiwa pulled out a 9mm CZ pistol and fired two shots at the cops but missed both of them as Bernard ran and sought refuge in the house while his colleague, Kazombe, hid in the nearby maize field.
The bullets however damaged the vehicle belonging to Chigumira’s father and floor tiles in the house.
After the gunshots, Mubaiwa’s sister allegedly went out of the house, got into the car and drove away with Mubaiwa.
The court further heard that Mubaiwa was arrested the following day.
Tracy Mundanga represented the State.
