TWO robbers who broke into an Avonlea home in Harare early this year and attacked a couple with electric shockers and iron bars, killing the wife on the spot and leaving her husband for dead, were yesterday slapped with an effective 12–year jail sentence each for robbery.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Harare regional magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni presided over the matter. The pair – Clemence Maminimini (33) and Kindness Mubariri (21) both of Seke – are yet to stand trial for the murder of the woman, Jacqueline Walmsley, and attempted murder of her husband, William.
Prosecutor Tungamirai Muganhiri told the court during trial that the convicts stole valuables worth $3 670 during the robbery on March 27 this year. The court heard that the duo – together with an accomplice who is still at large – went to the Walmsley’s family house in Avonlea armed with bolt cutters, iron bars and electric shockers.
They removed a pillar from the precast wall to gain entry, then forced open the toilet window and cut the burglar bars using bolt cutters and gained entry into the house. They confronted Walmsley and his wife in the bedroom and severely assaulted the couple with iron bars and tortured them with electric shockers while demanding cash and valuables.
Walmsley lost consciousness and was left lying on the floor battling for his life while his wife died as a result of the assault. The three then ransacked the house and stole various electricals including computer gadgets, mobile phones and a handbag containing personal documents.
Maminimini and Mubariri were arrested on April 20 leading to the recovery of some of the stolen items. They showed the police where they had hidden the electric shockers. On April 23 they were taken to the house and showed the police how they committed the crimes.
