The trial of the seven Shamva police officers who allegedly assaulted and murdered a resident, Luxmore Chivambo, last year accusing him of stealing $100 from a cop’s wife resumed at the High Court yesterday.
REPORT BY CHARLES LAITON
The matter was, however, postponed to next Monday to allow for Cuban pathologist Dr Aguero Gonzales who examined Chivambo’s body to testify.
Justice Hlekani Mwayera heard that Gonzales’ subpoena had been improperly delivered, hence his failure to attend court yesterday. Chivambo allegedly succumbed to severe battering by police officers on March 17 last year.
When the trial started in January this year, the seven police officers implicated in the matter denied the murder charge saying Chivambo could have been attacked by a “stray missile” thrown by someone from the mob that had gathered at the scene allegedly attempting to attack a police raid squad at a shebeen in the neighbourhood.
The court heard that on the day in question, the officer-in-charge, Aspias Shumba (48), who is charged alongside his subordinates, Mortion Jakopo (41), Simon Mafunda (32), Michael Makwalo (30), Lee Makope (23), Benedict Tapfuma (22) and Blessing Saidi (26), led the officers to Shamva compound after his wife Judith was robbed of her wallet containing cash and a mobile phone handset.
Apparently, Shumba’s wife had been allegedly attacked by unknown assailants who took away her property.
She reported the incident to her husband who immediately mobilised his subordinates to hunt down the alleged robber. It is alleged Shumba and his colleagues then proceeded to Ashley Gold compound in a ZRP Landrover truck and raided Chivambo’s house.
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The court heard that at the material time, Chivambo and his wife were fast asleep, but the officers forced entry into the house and dragged him out.
It is alleged they took turns to assault him with baton sticks, booted feet and clenched fists demanding to know the identity of the person who had robbed Shumba’s wife. Chivambo died the following day upon admission in hospital.
