Court urges cops to bring culprits to book

This was after Phillip Dendere (47) and George Nyahuye (36) accused of assaulting Dr Munyaradzi Kereke’s driver Privilege Maturure were acquit­ted at the close of the State case on Fri­day without even having to present their own defence.
Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini urged police to carry out thorough investigations and bring all culprits to book.
He said on the initial appearance, driver Maturure was brought to court in a wheel chair in a bid to gain the court’s sympathy, but the affidavit pre­sented to the court over the injuries was defective.
“This is a clear case in which the State witnesses approached the court with dirty hands,” said Mr Jarabini.
He said the witnesses went on to bring forged papers in a bid to induce the court to convict innocent persons.
Mr Jarabini said the witnesses were discredited during cross-examination, adding that their evidence was mani­festly unreliable.
He said no reasonable court acting carefully would convict on such evi­dence.
The Parirenyatwa hospital male nurse who forged the medical report used in the case was sentenced to per­form 175 hours of community service after pleading guilty.
Jacob Chiweshe (35) told the court that he had been promised money by Dr Munyaradzi Kereke’s driver.
Harare magistrate Ms Faith Mushure sen­tenced him to seven months in prison of which two were suspended on condi­tion of good behaviour.
Another five months were sus­pended on condition he performs 175 hours of community service.
His lawyer Mr Tapiwa Makanza said Maturure, who was also arrested over the same issue, approached his client and advised him that he was aassaulted and needed an affidavit so he could be compensated.
He also said Maturure came with a stamped affidavit.
Mr Makanza urged the court to be lenient with his client after submitting that he was a youthful first offender who tendered a plea of guilty, thereby saving the court’s time.
He said he co-operated with police during investigations and led to the arrest of Maturure and another sus­pect who allegedly influenced him to forge the document.