KWEKWE — Elson Masendeke, who is facing murder charges, yesterday begged resident magistrate Taurai Manwere to have mercy on his “soul” and grant him bail.
BLESSED MHLANGA
He has been in remand prison for nearly a year.
Elson, who together with his brothers Ernest and Edward, Walter Mahofa and Lazarus Mukarati were arrested in March last year on allegations of fatally assaulting Jonathan Mpofu, made the plea while appearing for routine remand.
“I beg this court to have mercy on me and grant me bail because I have been in remand prison for an entire year and my trial date has not been set,” begged Elson. “I wish if I could be allowed to come and report to court from home.”
Manwere advised Elson to apply for bail at the High Court saying he had no powers to grant him bail.
He instructed the State, led by Tinashe Mhonde, to follow up on Elson’s trial date.
“I advise you to apply for bail at the High Court because this court has no jurisdiction to grant bail in a murder case,” he said.
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“Please also chase up with his trial date because he has been in remand for over a year now.”
Ernest, who was nabbed by police after six months on the run, was also remanded to May 6 when he appeared separately before Manwere.
The State alleges that Elson and his brothers, who are now all in custody, fatally struck Mpofu with a machete and sticks following a misunderstanding.
“The five assaulted Mpofu with sticks, fists and a machete several times until he became unconscious.
“He sustained deep cuts on his forehead and several bruises all over the body and bled through the nose and mouth,” reads a court statement.
Mpofu had allegedly stepped on Edward’s foot while he was at a pool table at a night spot in Mbizo, Kwekwe.
