FORMER police detective Jaison Muvevi has been convicted on four murder and four attempted murder charges and sentenced to four life prison terms and 40 years, respectively.
High Court judge Justice Gibson Mandaza described Muvevi as a “sadist and psychopath”, saying he treated his victims as objects.
Justice Mandaza said the court held that society is safer without Muvevi hence the need to condemn him to life imprisonment.
The court held that the State, represented by Caroline Mutimisakwa and Tapiwa Kadena, proved its cases beyond reasonable doubt in all counts saying the defence of mental insanity did not apply in his case.
In aggravation, the State submitted that the murders were committed in aggravating circumstances, premeditated, happened at public places, unprovoked and there was the use of firearms in all counts.
“Also, the accused murdered a police officer who was on duty. With that, we ask for the accused be sentenced to four life terms in prison,” the prosecution said.
The defence asked for the court to sentence Muvevi to 10 years imprisonment for each count of murder and two years each for attempted murder.
However, Justice Mandaza, in sentencing the convict, said that he noted that Muvevi was a sadist and a psychopath who treated his victims as objects.
Muvevi had denied the offence and pleaded insanity.
He was being represented by Blessing Matandire, who told the court that he was under the influence of goblins when he committed the offence.
He told the court that he was haunted by the goblins, hence the reason he shot and killed an apostolic sect prophet, where he went to seek deliverance.
Muvevi further told the court that he was mentally unstable at the time and could not comprehend what was happening, “the reason why his mother was taking him to an apostolic shrine”.
He urged the court to acquit him on the basis of insanity.
“All the deceased were unknown to the accused. All the murders occurred in broad daylight.
“The accused was being haunted by evil spirits and goblins, that’s why his mother was taking him to the shrine,” Matandire said during the defence outline.
Muvevi shot dead an apostolic sect leader, Crispen Mubvana Kanerusine (62), before fatally shooting the officer-in-charge of Hwedza Police Station, Inspector Maxwell Hove (43) and a bartender, Munashe Mujanhi (20).
Muvevi also injured Detective Constable Tendai Mugova.
He fled to Mozambique after attempting to kill Raphael Nyahwema at Mutare Boys High.
Muvevi was apprehended by civilians in Mozambique, who handed him over to the police who then handed him to Zimbabwean authorities.
Investigations following his arrest unearthed another alleged murder, that of Nyarai Round in 2022.
At the time, a Harare man, Nyasha Eusen, was arrested in connection with Round’s death, but the State later withdrew charges against him, turning him into a key witness after investigations pointed to Muvevi as the suspect.
A scar on Muvevi’s elbow and medical documents found in his car after his arrest linked him to Round’s murder.
