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Leonard Ncube in Binga
FOUR murder suspects linked to the recent gruesome Binga shooting incident last month appeared in court yesterday and were further remanded to February 17.
Hardlife Dube, 20, Lovemore Mudenda, 38, Robert Muleya, 31, and Japhet Muleya, 43, are expected to stand trial for four counts of the alleged murders while police are continuing with investigations of the ghoulish killings.
The four, from Chief Dobola and Chief Saba areas appeared for routine remand before Binga magistrate Stephen Ndlovu.
“You will remain in custody to the 17th and if you want bail you have to apply to the High Court,” said Ndlovu.
Initially, there were six suspects, all of them known poachers in the Muchesu Conservancy and Chizarira National Park where they would allegedly illegally hunt elephants and pangolins.
Dube’s brother Emmanuel, and their father Jameson Sinola, a former Rhodesian police officer who was also an inyanga, died before being taken to court.
Japhet Muleya is already serving a three-year-jail term after admitting to possessing 110 rounds of ammunition for an AK rifle used in the dawn executions of Sithembinkosi Moyo, Nkosana Mdlongwa, Alvin Nyirenda and Mthulisi Leon Sibanda on January 5, this year.
Two others, Paul Siachimbo and his son, Trust, were last month fined for possessing ammunition of a British rifle, but were cleared of the quadruple homicide.
Another suspect Leonard Mhlanga couldn’t stand trial for possessing 38 rounds of ammunition last month as he was admitted to Hwange Colliery Hospital following an alleged assault by detectives and will appear in court today.
He is represented by Elvis Mashindi, from Mashindi and Partners.
Prosecutors, say on January 5, the four accused were approached by Moyo, Mdlongwa, Nyirenda and Sibanda who wanted to buy ivory.
It is said the crew arranged to meet at Siansundu Business Centre but instead, Dube, Mudenda, Robert and Japhet lured the victims to Ngongonye area.
Upon reaching the 14km peg at the Ngongonye Bridge along Kariangwe-Lusulu Road, the accused stopped the victims’ car, an Isuzu double cab.
Allegations are that a row erupted over money for the illegal transaction resulting in the alleged shooting of the victims.
The alleged killers placed Moyo’s body, whose skull was cracked open, on the front seat, Nyirenda on the back seat and Nkosana’s body on the loading box.
Prosecuting, David Shiku alleged the attackers pushed the vehicle over the bridge to conceal the murder as a road traffic accident.
Allegations are that the killers took Sibanda and beheaded him about two kilometres away, where his lower body was found with hands still tied behind. His tongue, ears, nose, and lips had been sliced off and his eyes plucked out.
Prosecutors say the victims were robbed of their money, two iPhones, five cell phones, one Karbonn smart phone, and other valuables.
Also an AK 47 rifle and one magazine with erased serial numbers was recovered at Sinoya Dube’s kraal, while 10 spent cartridges supplied by Japhet were recovered.
Safety shoes belonging to Robert and matching the footprints found at the crime scene were also recovered.
Police investigators also allege that the suspects’ bloodstained clothes and a raincoat whose owner is unknown were recovered.
Investigators were also told that the suspects were known poachers operating between Zimbabwe and Zambia where they would get the ammunition.
Online Reporter