Armed robber jailed 8 years

before locking the owners in a toilet has been jailed eight years effective.
Joseph Nderume (37) who was apprehended after one of his victims freed himself and shot him on the knee pleaded not guilty to armed robbery charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa.

He was however, convicted after the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Tsikwa sentenced Nderume to 12 years imprisonment of which two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. A further two years were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant of US$4 500 on or before October 31 this year.

In assessing sentence, Mr Tsikwa said he took into account Nderume’s mitigation especially that no one was injured during the robbery.
However, he said robbery was a very serious offence which involves premeditation and criminal resolve.
“He obviously left his homestead in Dzivaresekwa to Borrowdale with the sole intention to commit robbery. There was no element of temptation as he scaled over the pre-cast wall and proceeded to the lounge.

“This was total disregard to other people’s right to personal freedom. He then took away property worth US$7 000,” he said.
Prosecutor Mr Nathaniel Chigoro proved that on November 22 last year at around 6pm Nderume who was in the company of three others still at large went to the complainant’s house and scaled over the pre-cast wall.

They entered Mr Keith Robert Wilson’s house through a door that was open armed with knives and manhandled the complainant and his family.
They tied their hands with electric cables and demanded cash from the complainant threatening to kill his family.

They stole two HP Laptops, a Kodak camera, a Figi camera, two Nokia cellphones, P530, 900 000 Meticais, R100, US$40 and other valuables.
After five minutes the complainant managed to break the bathroom door and freed his family and took a pistol from a gun cabinet and drove towards Borrowdale Police Station to make a police report.

On his way he met Nderume and one of his accomplices walking down the road and fired warning shots to stop them, but they fled.
The complainant shot Nderume on the knee while his accomplice surrendered.

The stolen property is valued at US$7 000 of which goods worth US$2 100 were recovered.