adminAuxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
AN armed robber who died in police custody was badly bruised on the back and shoulder, and had bullet wounds to his back and leg, an inquest heard yesterday.
Jail escapee Shepherd Mhizha, alias Major Sanyati, was shot and killed on July 27, 2011, near Khami Dam during indications with CID detectives.
Top lawyer Josphat Tshuma, representing Mhizha’s family which claims he was assassinated by the CID, yesterday quizzed a government doctor who conducted the post-mortem.
Dr Sanganai Pesanai described Mhizha’s injuries to magistrate Chrispen Mberewere at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court.
He told court: “He had a gunshot wound on his back and it was about 40cm from the top of his head, and the bullet could have affected the ribs on its way out.”
Dr Pesanai also said Mhizha — who was once married to musician Alick Macheso’s estranged wife Tafadzwa Fortunate Mapako — had a bullet head lodged in one of his legs as well as bruises.
“There were quite a number of bruises on the back and one on the shoulder, but I can’t ascertain how the bruises were inflicted and the weapon used,” Dr Pesanai said.
CID detectives investigating a spate of armed robberies in Harare and Bulawayo between 2009 and 2011 arrested Mhizha on July 24, 2011, following a shoot-out in Luveve suburb.
He was shot in the leg during the encounter, and he was found with a CZ pistol with five rounds of ammunition.
The pistol had erased serial numbers, according to the State.
Three days later, with the bullet head still in his leg, Mhizha led detectives to a bushy area along Khami Road near Khami Dam to recover another pistol.
The weapon was recovered, but the State says he suddenly cocked it, prompting CID detectives to fire at him.
He was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he died on admission.
During cross examination by Tshuma, Dr Pesanai was asked whether a person could survive with a bullet head lodged in one of his legs to which the doctor replied: “It’s possible as the pain decreases by the day, although there would be infection and pus in the wound if not treated.
“A person is able to run if it’s a matter of life and death [with a bullet in their leg].”
The inquest continues, with the magistrate expected to rule next month.
Mhizha had been implicated in 22 armed robberies in Bulawayo and was also wanted in Harare for escaping from custody using forged papers. In 2005, he was jailed for 20 years together with two accomplices, who died in prison, for a string of armed robberies in Harare.
He served part of the sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Prison but got out of jail after a bogus Harare lawyer, George Simbi, secured his release as well as that of eight other suspected armed robbers and carjackers from prison in 2009 using fake High Court release orders.
Once out, Mhizha allegedly went on to commit several armed robberies in Bulawayo’s affluent suburbs, getting away with mostly cash and jewellery.
His gang was known for breaking into homes before tying up occupants with electrical cables and helping themselves to their property.
Online Reporter