Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
TWO men, who killed Harare cellphone dealer Sipho Million Ncube in a suspected robbery plot, have been convicted by the High Court.
DNA evidence linked a blood-stained knife and clothing to the murdered businessman helped seal their fate.
Elvin Saungweme Dongo and Dellon David Balani were convicted last week by High Court judge, Justice Malin Tommasi, and are now awaiting sentencing.
Ncube’s disappearance in March 2020 triggered frantic searches by relatives and business associates before his body was eventually found.
Investigations later led to the recovery of a blood-stained knife from a bushy area in Waterfalls and clothing from Dongo’s residence, with forensic tests linking blood on both items to Ncube.
The State alleged that Dongo and Balani acted together with Munyaradzi Mawadze in a plot to rob and kill the cellphone dealer.
Mawadze’s trial was separated from theirs.
A post-mortem examination established that Ncube died from acute anaemia caused by severe neck trauma inflicted by an incised wound.
Police told the court that Dongo pointed out the location where Ncube’s body was recovered, while Balani led investigators to the place where the knife was found.
In an earlier ruling dismissing their applications for discharge at the close of the State’s case, Justice Tommasi highlighted the forensic evidence linking the accused to the murder.
“There is objective forensic evidence linking the blood found on the clothing recovered from the first accused’s residence, as well as that found on the knife pointed out by accused two and recovered in Waterfalls, to the deceased,” she said.
The court also considered statements made by the accused in their bail applications, which placed them in the company of Mawadze at or near the scene around the time of the killing.
Dongo’s knowledge of where Ncube’s body was found, coupled with the discovery of clothing bearing the deceased’s blood at his residence, formed part of the evidence against him.
Balani was implicated by his knowledge of where the knife was recovered, the forensic link between the weapon and Ncube, and statements placing him with the other men at the material time.
The court also heard that the accused’s versions referred to a knife being used to inflict a fatal wound inside a vehicle in a remote area.
Justice Tommasi dismissed their applications for discharge and ordered them to enter their defence.
Their subsequent convictions bring the case closer to its conclusion, with sentencing now awaited.
