Harare magistrate Batanai Madzingira is today expected to give a determination on whether or not to accept a statement allegedly written in the presence of Edgars shop officials by Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (Bofoz) second princess Mercy Kamanura, admitting stealing a jumpsuit from Edgars Stores.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Kamanura (24) is on trial accused of stealing the garment valued at $40.
Yesterday, Edgars ZB Centre branch manager Ketai Mashungupa told the court Kamanura was in a calm state when she wrote her admission statement moments after being caught.
Mashungupa made the comments while giving evidence in a trial within a trial after the model, through her lawyer Lovemore Matapure, objected to the production of the statement, arguing it was recorded through coercion.
“She was in a calm state when she came into my office in the company of the security officer. The officer (Isaac Kanyandura) then told me what had happened and I put the question to the accused if it was true and she affirmed,” Mashungupa said.
“I asked her if she had money on her to pay for the garment and she said ‘no’. I even inquired if we could charge it on her account and she said she had no buying power.”
During cross-examination by Kamanura’s lawyer, Mashungupa maintained Kamanura voluntarily and willingly confessed through writing.
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“If she did not want to write the statement she had a choice simply to refuse, but she did not say so,” Mashungupa said.
The lawyer then suggested to the witness that Kamanura could have been threatened and coerced before she entered the manager’s office, to which Mashungupa said she would not comment on things that happened in her absence, but was ready to testify on what she saw.
The main trial is expected to proceed next week.
Progress Maringamoyo appeared for the State.
