Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
AN armed robber who was part of a gang that allegedly pointed a gun at a three-month-old baby and placed an axe on the neck of four-year-old child threatening to axe him before getting away with cash and household property worth US$2 683, yesterday appeared in court facing robbery charges.
Trust Nkomo (43) of Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb who was positively identified at a parade, pleaded not guilty before Bulawayo provincial resident magistrate Mr Themba Chimiso.
In his defence Nkomo said he did not commit the crime.
“ I do not own a gun but the person I was with is the one who had a gun,” he said.
However, during cross-examination by prosecutor Mr Samuel Mpofu, Nkomo confirmed that one of the witnesses had positively identified him at an identification parade and he also admitted that he was found in possession of a gun used to commit the offence.
Nkomo also confirmed that his cellphone was seized for triangulation and that it showed he was at the crime scene on the day the robbery occurred.
Ms Kimberly Shambare told the court that she positively identified Nkomo by a distinct facial scar.
“I went to bed around 9PM with my children after locking all the doors and windows. I was later awakened by a man wielding an axe who ordered me not to scream before demanding cash, valuables and gold.
“He stood next to my bed. Although he ordered me not to scream, I could not contain my fear. He grabbed my four-year-old child by the legs and placed an axe on his neck, threatening to kill him if I did not give them money,” said Ms Shambare.
She said the gang ordered her to get off the bed and they ransacked the bedroom.
“Nkomo hit me on the knee with the back of the axe while they ordered me off the bed. They lifted the mattress and found my husband’s pistol,” said Ms Shambare.
She said Nkomo then took her husband’s gun and pointed it at her three-month-old baby while demanding cash.
“I told them I had no money in the house except for the US$15 which was in my bag. I then removed the cash from my bag which Nkomo then took. They also took cellphones that were in my bedroom. After that, they proceeded to the sitting room where our housemaid was sleeping,” said Ms Shambare.
She said the gang again demanded money and the maid told them she had no money and surrendered her cellphone.
Ms Shambare said the gang then took a television set, a gas cylinder, USB drives and other household items.
Mr Godknows Muleya testified that he was called days later by police detectives to identify a firearm magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition that had been recovered from Nkomo.
“When I bought the Derya pistol together with its magazine, I engraved three dots on the plastic base plate. I positively identified the recovered magazine using those markings,” said Muleya.
The matter was postponed to 17 September for judgment.
