A 24-YEAR-OLD Marondera man, who allegedly set ablaze three huts before demanding $200 from the owners, was on Saturday arraigned before magistrate Jabulani Mzinyathi facing three charges of attempted murder.
by Jairos Saunyama
Phinias Nyapingidza, of Shinari Farm in Marondera, was denied bail before the matter was postponed to September 21 for trial. It is the State case that on September 3 this year at around 10pm, the accused went to Tawanda Laheke’s residence and drained petrol from the complainant’s motorbike.
The accused then doused Laheke’s thatched bedroom hut with the petrol before setting it on fire, while the complainant and his brother Malvin and Shingirai Mwenga were sleeping inside. The complainant noticed flames and alerted Malvin and Mwenga before they managed to escape through the door. They tried to put out the fire, but failed.
After a few minutes, the accused phoned the complainant and confessed to the crime before warning him of more disturbances unless he paid him $200.
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Using the same modus operandi, Nyapingidza set ablaze two more huts belonging to different people demanding money in exchange for peace.
Emmanuel Dera prosecuted.