adminSydney Mubaiwa in Bikita
There was drama at Bikita Magistrates’ Court last week after a man who was facing indecent assault charges, turned violent and threatened to beat up the magistrate.
The accused was protesting the magistrate’s decision to further remand him in custody.
Bikita Magistrate Mrs Caroline Tafira and other people in the public gallery were forced to flee after the accused, Tatenda Mukanganwi (22) became violent.
Mukanganwi was in the dock to answer to indecent assault charges after he allegedly forcibly fondled a fellow female villager’s breasts and was reported to the police.
When Mrs Tafira remanded him in custody, he lost his cool and started shouting at the magistrate.
“Are you serious that you want to send me to jail because you have failed to execute your duties? I am going to teach you a lesson today (Friday) and you will never forget me! You don’t know me well. You are very young to handle such a case,” yelled Mukanganwi at Mrs Tafira.
He then grabbed the microphone and its cables and tried to hit the magistrate with them. He also grabbed court papers that were nearby and threw them onto the ground, forcing people in the public gallery and the magistrate to flee.
Sanity only prevailed in the courtroom after prison officers subdued Mukanganwi, allowing Mrs Tafira to return to her chair.
Mrs Tafira remanded Mukanganwi in custody pending a mental examination by at least two medical doctors.
Online Reporter