HARARE, Mar. 19 (NewsDay Live) – Former police detective Jaison Muvevi, accused of killing four people and injuring four others in a daylight shooting spree, has pleaded not guilty, claiming he was under the influence of a “goblin” at the time.
Muvevi appeared before High Court judge Justice Gibson Mandaza yesterday.
Through his lawyer, Blessing Matandire, he told the court he was mentally unstable and could not comprehend his actions, arguing he should be acquitted on the basis of insanity.
He said he had been haunted by goblins and had gone to an Apostolic shrine seeking deliverance, where he shot and killed a prophet.
“All the deceased were unknown to the accused. All the murders occurred in broad daylight. He was being haunted by evil spirits, which is why his mother had taken him to the shrine,” Matandire said.
Prosecutors allege Muvevi went on to fatally shoot Officer-in-Charge of Wedza Police Station, Inspector Maxwell Hove (43), a bartender, and two others — Crispen Mubvana (62) and Munashe Mujanhi (20), according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
He also allegedly injured Detective Constable Tendai Mugova.
The court heard Muvevi fled to Mozambique after attempting to kill Raphael Nyahwema at Mutare Boys High, before being apprehended by civilians and handed over to police. He was later returned to Zimbabwe.
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Investigators say his arrest also linked him to the 2022 murder of Nyarai Round. Charges against an earlier suspect, Nyasha Eusen, were later dropped, and he is now a State witness.
A scar on Muvevi’s elbow and medical records recovered from his car allegedly tie him to the killing.
The State has lined up 30 witnesses, with the trial set to continue on a continuous roll until next week.
