Judge defers judgment in Ali murder case

Muremba postponed the judgment to November 27 to allow prosecutors Michael Mugabe and Terrence Mukuze to file their submissions.

HIGH Court judge Justice Esther Muremba yesterday deferred judgment in the murder trial of Pius Mukandi alias Jamba, accused of killing Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime in May last year.

Muremba postponed the judgment to November 27 to allow prosecutors Michael Mugabe and Terrence Mukuze to file their submissions.

Last Friday, Mukandi denied killing Ali saying he was framed. He told the court that he did not know her.

Mukandi said he was at his mother’s homestead on the day Ali was killed.

In a video submitted in court as an exhibit, Mukandi admitted to committing the crime and showed the police officers during indications how he committed the crime.

While leading evidence through his lawyer Garikayi Mhishi, Mukandi, however, distanced himself from the evidence in the video, saying he appeared in the video under duress.

Mukandi claimed that the script submitted in court was rehearsed.

The suspected murderer also told the court that he was assaulted and threatened with death if he did not admit to the murder charge.

Mukandi confirmed that on the day he is alleged to have killed Ali, he had taken two bottles of whisky and crystal meth.

On visiting Hurungwe where he was eventually apprehended, Mukandi said he had planned the journey months before. His mother, Lina Mukandi, however, told the court that he did not know his whereabouts when the police came looking for him.

Mukandi told the court that he surrendered himself to the police.

Seven witnesses, who testified in the matter, included his mother Lina, Washington Mutswiri, his sister Mercy Mukandi, Maruziva, Mirimbo and Kerina Miriyoni, among others.

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