Chasi further remanded in custody

His trial date has been set for the first term of the High Court that starts on the 14th of this month.

When he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Marylyn Mutshina on Thursday, Chasi was ordered to be examined by a medical doctor after he indicated that he had been assaulted by police and sustained swollen legs.

Chasi is being accused of allegedly murdering his wife Ms Dorcas Majola (41) who he was customarily married to and raping his daughter, who was 12-years then.

He is represented by Mr Herbert Shenje, of Shenje and Company.

Chasi (72), of Number 37 Sturton Drive, Glenvale, Richmond, has not been formally charged with murder and six counts of raping his daughter.

Sometime in 2009, Chasi was sentenced to seven years in jail for fraud.

On 6 July last year, he was released on home leave from Connemara Open Prison outside Gweru and he went to his house, Number 4 Richard Allen Road in Waterford.

He discovered that Ms Majola was four months pregnant and they had an argument over the pregnancy and Chasi allegedly assaulted her and she ran away from the house.

He went back to prison and was released on 2 November and when he came to Bulawayo he discovered that his wife had relocated to Lobengula West and he followed her.

The State alleges that he demanded to know who was responsible for the pregnancy and allegedly threatened to kill her and the unborn baby.

He allegedly forcibly moved into her lodgings and stayed with her and the State is alleging that she was living in fear, which prompted her on 13 November, to visit the Magwegwe Zimbabwe Republic Police Community Relations and Liaison Office, but Chasi allegedly continued with his death threats.

On 15 November, at about 3 pm, Chasi, who was now allegedly stalking Ms Majola, went to her workplace at a city hotel and picked her up.

He allegedly forced her to go with him to Bambanani Centre where they were both tested for HIV.

The State is alleging that from the centre, he took her to an unknown destination where he allegedly assaulted her with an unknown object.

The following morning, at about 6am, the State alleges that he carried her while she was unconscious and bleeding profusely from the injuries she had sustained, to the intersection of Lawley Road and 4th Street in Suburbs.

He called the police and allegedly made a false report that he and his wife had been robbed by four men.

The police attended the scene and Ms Majola was ferried to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she died later that day from the injuries she had sustained.

According to the post-mortem report, Ms Majola had a ruptured placenta, depressed skull, congested brain and the baby weighing 2,9kg also died as a result of the assault.

On the rape charges, the State is alleging that between 1 and 31 December 2008, Chasi was staying with his family in Richmond.

During that period, Ms Majola went to Silobela leaving the children including the complainant, who was 12 years old, in the custody of Chasi.

The State alleges that on a certain day and at night, Chasi called the complainant outside the house and informed her that he had been told by an inyanga that he was supposed to perform certain rituals so that the family would prosper.

He allegedly ordered her to undress and face north, west, south and east before they went back into the house.

During the night, the State alleges that he raped her before raping her two more times using the same method.

They moved house to Waterford where he again allegedly raped her three times.

The child later approached her class teacher and informed her about the alleged sexual abuse.

Ms Majola came back and the class teacher summoned her to the school and informed her about the abuse.

Chasi’s sister came from Chihota communal lands and the State alleges that she in the company of Ms Majola visited the class teacher and Chasi’s sister allegedly threatened the class teacher and Ms Majola against reporting the sexual abuse.

Chasi’s sister allegedly also threatened the child and the matter was never reported until investigations into the murder case started and the child opened up.