Murder suspects denied bail

Michael Mashiri

The duo accused of killing a man and dumping his body in Waterfalls has been denied bail.

Trymore Tirivavi (28) of Epworth in Harare and David Mupandawanda (27) of Mupandawana Village, Chief Murambwa, Mhondoro-Ngezi, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court accused of murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

Magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure, who presided over the matter, remanded the two in custody and ordered them to appear in court on 8 December, 2022 for bail application.

She advised them to approach the High Court for the murder charge.

The court was informed that on 26 November, 2022, at around 2000hours, Tirivavi and Mupandawanda, in the company of Godfrey Marowa, (already arrested), Raymond Chiromo and Godwin NFPK (who are still at large) hatched a plan to rob the now-deceased, who was driving in a Honda Fit vehicle, which he was using as a taxi.

They approached the now deceased who was parked at corner Charter Road and Mbuya Nehanda Street, pretending to be in need of transport to go to Highfield in Harare.

Tirivavi and Mupandawanda were given transport, along the way to Machipisa Shopping Centre, Highfield, Harare, one of the accused persons requested to be dropped off at Zuva Service Station, opposite the Zimbabwe Grounds, pretending to have reached his destination.

The now-deceased, stopped the car and the accused disembarked. At that point, one of the accused persons who was seated at the back grabbed the deceased by the neck and strangled him.

They removed him from the driver’s seat and one of the accused persons took control of the vehicle. The now-deceased became unconscious and they tied his hands and legs with shoe laces. They searched him and took his itel cellphone. The accused drove to Waterfalls area, Harare where they dumped the body of the deceased.

The now-deceased succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the robbery and his body was later discovered by a passerby who reported the matter to Waterfalls police.

The police managed to recover the stolen Honda Fit. The total value of the stolen items was US$4 080 and US$4 000 was recovered.

Opposing bail, CID Homicide, Harare, represented by Detective Constable Bester Chihuri, stated that the accused persons had committed a very serious crime which attracted the maximum a death sentence if convicted, hence this might induce the accused persons from absconding if granted bail.

It was also made known to the court that the accused persons have pending robbery cases at ZRP Epworth.