There was drama at Mutare Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday when two suspected robbers walked out of the dock in protest over the regional magistrate’s ruling which had thrown away the pair’s application to have their case transferred to the High Court.
The two, Godfrey Kapopo and Sherperd Chirenga, are facing two counts of robbery after they allegedly got away with a Toyota Dyna Clipper truck and a Nissan UD 80 truck early this year in cases of robbery.
Throwing out their application, regional magistrate Livingstone Chipadze said it was impossible for him to transfer the matter to High Court since he had jurisdiction over such robbery matters.
Kapopo then suddenly shouted, “Nothing has changed and I am going!” as he stormed out of the dock.
When trial commenced, Chirenga applied to leave the dock but the magistrate warned him that this behaviour was unacceptable.
He however, disregarded the directive and also left the dock.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
The State nevertheless urged the court to continue with the trial since the two had chosen to leave court of their own volition.
In the first count, where they made away with a Toyota Dyna woth $ 6000, the pair is alleged to have hired the truck from Harare under false pretences that they wanted to ferry potatoes from Headlands.
When they arrived in Headlands, they allegedly attacked the driver and gagged his mouth with newspapers before dumping him. The vehicle was reportedly sold in Mozambique.
In February the pair allegedly hired a UD truck worth $35 000 from Mutare to Rusape to ferry mining equipment.
They then reportedly attacked the driver in a similar fashion and gagged his mouth using his socks before dumping him. Again they allegedly sold the truck in Mozambique. The matter was heard yesterday in their absence and will continue on August 14. Mike Tembo prosecuted.