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Glen View murder: Judge reserves bail ruling for two

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HIGH Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera yesterday reserved ruling on an application for bail by the two MDC-T activists arrested last month

HIGH Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera yesterday reserved ruling on an application for bail by the two MDC-T activists arrested last month over the death of Police Inspector Petros Mutedza in May last year.

Report by Charles Laiton, Senior Court Reporter

The two — MDC-T youth chairperson for Glen View South Tarirai Kusotera (36) and his deputy Jackson Mabota (32) — were the latest suspects to be detained following the arrest of 29 others last year, who are now on trial before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

The pair’s lawyer, Gift Mtisi, submitted to the court that his clients were not a flight risk since their co-accused were once granted bail before the commencement of the trial.

Mtisi further argued that the post-mortem report conducted after the policeman’s death proved that the cause of death was as a result of a single blow to the head which could not have been inflicted by 31 people.

“The post-mortem report referred to in the investigating officer’s statement is clearly indicating the officer was struck by one stone which caused injuries resulting in his death. One wonders how the 31 people would assist each other in throwing the stone,” Mtisi said.

But prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba, from the Attorney-General’s Office, opposed the application, arguing Kusotera and Mabota were flight risks.

Nyazamba said the two activists had been on the run for over a year after seeking refuge in South Africa, a claim dismissed by Mtisi.

“The investigating officer received information on October 9 this year that the two, who had skipped the country, were now back, hence they were eventually arrested,” Nyazamba said. But Mtisi dismissed the State’s assertions and told the court that his clients were always available.

He said Kusotera had been employed by Zuva Service Station in Highfield while Mabota, who was employed by his co-accused Last Maengahama, simply changed his address after the arrest of his employer, but never evaded the police.

Meanwhile, the trial of the other 29 activists is expected to continue next Monday.