JAZZ sensation Duduzile Tracy Manhenga (29) will know her fate today when Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi is expected to pass sentence after convicting her yesterday of culpable homicide and driving without supervision.
BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Manhenga was convicted on her on plea of guilty.
For the State, prosecutor Barbra Ndoro told the court that although Manhenga was a first offender, ordering her to pay just a fine would damage the public’s faith in the justice delivery system because the accused “exhibited gross negligence which cannot be mitigated by the fact that the accused is a first offender”.
She urged the court to consider a minimum sentence of community service because the offence was compounded by the fact that Manhenga was not a holder of a valid driver’s licence when the accident occurred.
Manhenga, who is out of custody, was brought to court on summons over the accident that occurred three years ago which resulted in the death of a motorcyclist, Graham Martin Millward.
In mitigation through her lawyer, Manhenga pleaded with the court to consider that she was a mother of four minor children aged between five and 13. She also said she was a useful member of society and an artiste of repute.
She also asked the court to take into consideration the delay witnessed in prosecuting her for an offence committed in 2010.
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The State case was that on March 15, 2010 around 14:15 hours, Manhenga was driving a Toyota Spacio along Sherwood Drive.
The now deceased, Millward, was riding his motorbike along the same road, but coming from the opposite direction.
The court heard that Manhenga turned right to a house in Mabelreign in front of oncoming motorbike.
Millward was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was taken to West End Hospital where he died on admission.
His motorbike is also said to have been seriously damaged.
The State proved that Manhenga turned right in front of oncoming traffic and failed to keep a proper lookout on the road ahead.
It further alleged that she failed to stop or act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent.
Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the court yesterday as Manhenga hugged friends and relatives while weeping.
