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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
THREE men suspected to be robbers who pounced on Daisy Mtukudzi, smashed the window of a car she was driving and snatched her handbag stealing cash and valuables worth US$3 000 have appeared in court. Marlyin Maposa (26) of No. 8656 Kuwadzana 5, Goodbye Chinguwa (29) of 13555 Unit N in Chitungwiza and Fungai Chitawa (43) of No. 2058 Overspill in Epworth appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Arnold Maburo.
The trio are facing robbery charges and the matter proceeded to trial with the State led by prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira calling Mrs Mtukudzi as the first witness.
Mrs Mtukudzi narrated how the robbers pounce on her.
“The incident occurred on Tuesday night as I was driving along Masotsha Ndlovu Way.
“I then stopped at a Give Way sign on approaching Simon Mazorodze Road in Waterfalls and this is when a man appeared from nowhere and smashed the front passenger window with an object.
“Before I knew, the man grabbed my handbag and disappeared in the darkness,” she said.
Mr Chakurira told the court that on February 4, the trio hatched a plan to steal from motorists at the intersection of Masotsha Ndlovu Way and Simon Mazorodze Road in Harare.
In connivance the trio made a weapon out of old spark plugs and at 8pm they proceeded to the intersection and laid an ambush.
Maposa, armed with the weapon, allegedly rushed to the car and smashed the front passenger window and grabbed Mrs Mtukudzi’s cream handbag which was on the passenger seat. while Chinguwa and Chitawa kept surveillance..
Mrs Mtukudzi’s handbag contained a Samsung Galaxy S3, US$1 200, national identity card, driver’s licence, bank cards and keys.
The trio allegedly disappeared in the darkness and later shared the loot.
The court heard that Mtukudzi’s cream handbag was left at the scene. The matter was reported at Waterfalls police station.
Investigations lead to the arrest of the trio and recovery of the used weapon. The three voluntarily led to the recovery of the Samsung Galaxy S3 which they had allegedly sold.
The value of the stolen goods was pegged at US$3 000 and only US$1 800 was recovered.
Online Reporter