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PG wants murderer hanged

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Prosecutor-General representative Masimba Manhamo has urged the High Court to pass a death sentence on a 28-year-old Chinhoyi man who was last week convicted of murder with actual intent after robbing and killing a 53-year-old village head.

Prosecutor-General representative Masimba Manhamo has urged the High Court to pass a death sentence on a 28-year-old Chinhoyi man who was last week convicted of murder with actual intent after robbing and killing a 53-year-old village head.

BY CHARLES LAITON

The convict, Godknows Mandizvidza’s lawyer, however, urged the court to consider sparing her client’s life and instead sentence him to a term of imprisonment, adding it was in line with the new Constitution.

High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze is next Monday expected to pass sentence after both the State and the defence made submissions regarding their suggestions of what they felt would be an appropriate sentence.

The court heard on a date unknown to the State, but sometime in November 2007 at Mafura village under Chief Magonde in Mashonaland West province, Mandizvidza is said to have intruded into Spiwe Mafura’s house, where he struck her with a wooden log on the head, killing her instantly.

High-court

The court further heard Mandizvidza proceeded to steal Mafura’s groceries and a blanket after which he took her two-year-old grandchild and directed him to a nearby village, before disappearing from the scene.

Prior to killing the village head, Mandizvidza is said to have been assisting her with some household chores such as fetching firewood or tending to her cattle and donkeys.

But on the fateful day, Mandizvidza is said to have decided to kill Mafura and rob her of her groceries, which he later took to Runene Primary School for safekeeping.

Mandizvidza’s luck, however, ran out during the same month when a fellow villager, Tamali Hwangwa, passed by Mafura’s homestead and discovered flies coming out of her bedroom.

The court heard there was an unpleasant odour emanating from the same bedroom, prompting her to inform other villagers, who discovered Mafura’s decomposing body.

The matter was reported to police and investigations led to the recovery of Mafura’s groceries at Eric Maseva’s house.

After being interviewed by police, Maseva is said to have implicated Mandizvidza as the person who had brought the items for safekeeping.

Further investigations led to Mandizvidza’s arrest at Sanyati growth point where he was staying with his girlfriend.