A 37-YEAR-OLD Chitungwiza murder suspect is said to have miraculously survived death after he allegedly stabbed himself in the chest, drank rat poison and an overdose of malaria tablets, in a bid to avoid arrest for the murder of his wife’s boyfriend.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Obert Maninji of Manyame Park is also alleged to have attempted to kill his wife, Chipo, by stabbing her with a kitchen knife after accusing her of bedding his friend, the now deceased and self-proclaimed prophet, Tapiwa Chirara.
Maninji, who is represented by Raymond Nembo, has since approached the High Court seeking to be released on bail and the matter is expected to be heard today before High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe.
According to court papers, Maninji is facing a murder and attempted murder charges.
Allegations against Maninji are that on April 12, he confronted his wife after gathering information that she was having an extra-marital affair with his close friend. Chirara was a self-proclaimed prophet from the couple’s church.
It is alleged, during the confrontation, and as the couple drove along Marimba Road, Maninji produced a kitchen knife and stabbed his wife several times on her abdomen after which he stabbed himself on the chest.
Maninji is said to have fled from the scene after seeing one Naison Nechironga approaching them in a bid to rescue the wounded woman.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
On the same day, it is alleged, Maninji went to Chirara’s residence in Warren Park suburb where he confronted Chirara and poured battery acid on him before stabbing him once on the chest.
The State alleges, after stabbing Chirara, Maninji fled from the scene and was only apprehended at Hunyani Hills, where he attempted to commit suicide by drinking rat poison and taking an overdose of malaria tablets. In his bail statement, Maninji denied the allegations saying he never intended to kill Chirara or his wife but had simply acted out of anger, after realising that his wife of 16 years was having an affair with his friend.
“The unfortunate catalogue of disasters even saw the applicant attempt to take his own life by stabbing himself in the chest with the said knife and drinking rat poison and an overdose of malaria tablets,” Nembo submitted adding there was evidence that Maninji had lost self-control.
