GWERU businessperson, Webster Chiteta, accused of strangling his wife in 2013, has failed to attend his trial over the past four years because of ill-health, NewsDay has heard.
By Stephen Chadenga
An official at the Gweru Magistrates’ Courts said Chiteta, 38, could not stand trial during the just-ended High Court session in the city because of his deteriorating health.
“Medical reports brought by his [Chiteta] lawyer show that his health has worsened, hence, the reason he has not been facing trial in the matter over the years,” the court official said on condition of anonymity.
In September 2014, Chiteta, who had just been granted $1 000 bail, fled to neighbouring South Africa and was re-arrested in August 2015, but since then, he has not been brought to court for trial on medical grounds.
Chiteta, who is popularly known as Dzatu and owns Camvalve Recovery Company, allegedly strangled his wife in unclear circumstances.
Allegations against Chiteta are that on April 3, 2013, he retired to bed at around 1:30am.
When his wife, Winnie Tracy Phiri, joined him in bed at about 3:30am, he allegedly strangled her before making a false report of sudden death at Mtapa Police Station.
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However, a postmortem report by a doctor revealed that the death was a result of dislocation of the cervical spine and excessive movement of the neck.
