BY NKULULEKO SIBANDA
DEFENCE lawyers for two Bulawayo men accused of murdering a police officer during the recent disturbances that rocked the country have approached the High Court seeking their release on bail.
A Gukurahundi survivor and civil rights activist, Charles Thomas (56) and Bernard Sibanda (18) were recently charged with murdering Constable Alexio Maune (32), who was based at Entumbane Police Station, while he was on duty.
The accused’s lawyer Dumisani Dube, of Mathonsi Law Chambers, told NewsDay yesterday that they had applied to the High Court seeking bail for the two, saying they were wrongly accused.
“We made an application in terms of section 117 of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act for bail pending trial at High Court,” Dube said.
“It is our contention that the State must provide proof that the two accused persons were the ones who committed the murder of the late police officer. Our argument was that in this particular case, both accused persons were not on the scene of the crime at the time the murder was committed.
“Secondly, the accused persons did not participate in the demonstrations when the murder occurred. We contend that the accused persons were arrested three days after the incident when police were doing door-to-door random searches.”
The duo has was been remanded in custody to February 7. The State is yet to file its heads of arguments at the High Court.
