A ROBBERY suspect, Learnfirst Tarusenga, is battling for his life at Kwekwe General Hospital after he was critically shot in the abdomen by police detectives during a raid at his hideout last Wednesday.
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Tarusenga (33) and his co-accused Patrick Chademana (29) had been on the police “wanted list” in connection with an armed robbery which took place at Rockvale Shopping Centre along Mvuma road on April 27.
Both Tarusenga and Chademana were last Thursday remanded on their hospital beds to July 10 by Kwekwe magistrate Taurai Manwere.
Police claim they shot Tarusenga as he attempted to flee arrest adding that they suspected that he could have been armed at the time the shots were fired hitting him on his manhood and thighs.
However, Tarusenga told the court that police opened fire at point blank after he had knelt down and raised his hands in submission.
“I was not running away when the police shot at me. Instead I was kneeling down and raising my hands in surrender, but the police officer just drew his firearm and fired at me from the front,” Tarusenga said.
He also claimed that another bullet was still lodged in his shoulder, although police insisted that they fired one shot directed on Tarusenga’s groin.
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Chademana claimed he was injured after he attempted to jump out of a police vehicle taking them to Kwekwe Central Police Station after their arrest.
He said police had taken him to Rockvale Shopping Centre for indications at the crime scene and while on their way back he was beaten by officers who had accompanied him to the indications.
“I attempted to jump out of the vehicle and in the process caused the driver to panic. We then swerved off the road and there was an accident resulting in the death of one of the police officers who was assaulting me,” he said.
The two stand accused of stealing property worth $3 900 from a tuckshop using a machete and an axe handle which was tied to an iron bar to appear like a firearm.
They allegedly stole cellphones, DVD players, car batteries and a radio speaker. Some of the stolen property was found in Tarusenga’s possession.
