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Joseph Chani was convicted of murder with constructive intent in a high profile case that attracted hordes of people at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts last year.
He was slapped with an additional three years after the court found him guilty of assaulting the deceased Tsorosai Kusena’s relatives during the fatal September 23, 2011 incident.
High Court judge Joseph Musakwa reserved judgment after hearing submissions from Chani’s lawyer Mr Shakespeare Karuwa and principal law officer Mr Fungayi Nyahunzvi of the Attorney General’s Office.
Mr Karuwa argued that his client is a veteran of the liberation struggle which brought about Zimbabwe’s independence and given his patriotism he is unlikey to abscond from the courts’ jurisdiction.
He argued that 18 years in respect to a charge of murder was excessive in view of the circumstances of the matter. Mr Nyahunzvi opposed the application arguing that there were no prospects of success on appeal.
Charges against Chani, who was the officer commanding Camps and Hostels Support Unit Chikurubi before resigning, were that he fatally assaulted Kusena in the Chiadzwa diamond fields as well as assaulting his brothers, Onesai and Pikirayi, and their nephew, John Gwite, after they were apprehended by the police on allegations of illegal panning.
After their arrest, the quartet were handed over to a police base where they were eventually assaulted by the accused using switches.
Online Reporter