Drama at courts as suspect runs amok

smoking a cigarette.
Nyakarenga reportedly got out of holding cells, attempted to walk past the dock where his co-accused Faina Siniri (22) was under trial.
Nyakarenga and Siniri are jointly charged with 10 counts of robbery and six counts of rape together with Joseph Rice (33), George Laisi (21) and Laston Chongo (26).
“When Zero One got out of holding cells, a prison officer saw him and immediately jumped to stop him from escaping. The prison officer was grabbed by the neck and the prisoner started strangling him.
“He was smoking a cigarette, which he threw away and started punching the prison officer,” prosecutor Mrs Kudzai Chigwedere said.
Presiding senior regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya reportedly fled from his chambers forcing the court to be adjourned.
Mrs Chigwedere reportedly got out of the court and sought for back-up from other police and prison officers.
At the same time, Siniri jumped out of the dock and sought refuge among court interpreters.
Other suspects rescued the prison officer after Nyakarenga had been taken back into the holding cells.
When The Herald arrived at the court, Nyakarenga could be heard shouting from the holding cells.
“I need to get out of here because my family is suffering out there. I have to take care of them,” he shouted.
When the court resumed at 2.15pm there were at least seven prison and police officers manning the court.
Allegations against the group are that they pounced on Peter Makarichi before robbing him of property worth US$50.
The following day, they robbed another man of goods and cash valued at US$95 and drove off in their stolen motor vehicle.
They also robbed Samuel Matumba and Robert Chombo at Katanga Shopping centre.
The five offered them a lift and robbed them of goods worth US$264 while approaching Knowe turn off along Zvimba Road.
The following day, they robbed several other people of goods worth more than US$1 500.
On June 28, the gang allegedly gang-raped two girls aged 18 and 21 years before they were arrested at Kilworth Farm.