admin
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A BAR owner in Budiriro 1 suburb of Harare is facing murder charges for being part of a group that severely assaulted a patron after a misunderstanding while he was drinking.
Solomon Farisai Maura (36), who owns Chisipiti Night Club, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Patricia Kamwanda charged with murder and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi said on May 6 at around 5pm, the now deceased, who was not named in court, and his friend Mr Panashe Gwenanguruve, were drinking beer at Channel O Bar at Budiriro 1 Shopping Centre,
The now deceased had an altercation with unknown men and when Mr Gwenanguruve saw that the situation was getting ugly, he enquired what was happening.
He was held by the neck and sensing imminent danger, he quickly asked for forgiveness and was set free. He then disappeared from the scene, leaving behind his friend, the now deceased.
At around 8pm, the now deceased arrived home and linked up with Mr Gwenanguruve, who was already home.
However, the now deceased expressed unhappiness towards the treatment he got from people he had an altercation with and asked Nelson Mhike and Mr Gwenanguruve to escort him to Channel O Bar on a revenge mission.
Upon arrival at Channel O, they heard that the people they were targeting had gone, and then drank beer in the bar until it closed around 11pm. They then moved to Chisipiti Night Club where they continued drinking.
While in this bar, Mr Gwenanguruve had an altercation with the accused persons and their accomplices who were on the pool table.
The altercation degenerated into a fist fight and one of the accused used pepper spray to blind the now deceased and Mr Gwenanguruve to get an upper hand.
The bar owner allegedly assaulted the now deceased and Mr Gwenanguruve using chairs, kicks and fists. They fell unconscious and he left them in the bar.
The court heard that after a while, Mr Gwenanguruve gained consciousness and exited the nightclub without noticing that the now-deceased was still in the bar.
The now-deceased failed to gain consciousness and died as a result of injuries sustained.
The State further alleged that on May 13, a post-mortem was conducted and the doctor concluded that the death was due to universal subarachnoid haemorrhage and severe head injury.
On June 6, detectives from CID Homicide arrested Hlelath Mizha and George Tapera in connection with the case.
Upon interrogation, the two implicated Maura, alias Solo, Edmore Musiza and one only known as Admire, as the other accused.
On September 16, detectives from CID Homicide arrest the bar owner who was at a car sale along Seke Road.
Upon interviews, he admitted fighting the now deceased and his friend, but was not aware that the victim eventually died.
However, he implicated Aleck George Tapera, who has since been arrested, Mhizha alias Dhewa (now arrested), and Edmore Musiza, and someone called Chris.
Online Reporter