Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
One of the runaway inmates, who fled from lawful custody on Friday, attempted to exonerate their accomplice, who is a prison officer saying he was not involved in their escape plan.
Tafadzwa Richard Marondera told regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni that it is not true that a prison officer Donald Mudzinga assisted them to escape as it was their plan.
Marondera and Luke Zinyengere appeared separately before magistrate Mthombeni, who also remanded them to April 3 and 4 respectively for trial.
The two are facing charges of escaping from lawful custody. However, Zinyengere is facing an additional charge of armed robbery where he allegedly robbed a motorist of his Mazda Demio vehicle at gunpoint.
The two partially pleaded guilty to the offense of escaping from prison but denied using a firearm in their attempt to flee. They claim it was a toy.
According to the State, sometime early this month, the two connived to escape prison after the High Court had dismissed their bail plea in the Quest Financial Services robbery case involving US$720 000.
The two allegedly approached prison officer Madzinga whom they usually interfaced with and shared with him their plan in which they needed his assistance to smuggle a gun for them into Harare Remand prison.
Zinyengere’s young brother Tinotenda brought the revolver concealed in a bowl of rice, which Zinyengere accessed and kept in their cell.
On March 21, the duo went to court.
As they were being escorted back to the prison truck, the two sprang up, produced the revolver, threatened prison officers and ran away towards Mother Patrick Road where they scaled over the court’s palisade fencing.
Shots were fired from both sides and during the chase Marondera was tripped down by a prison officer and was arrested.
The court heard that Zinyengere managed to escape and robbed Tinashe Chiyamuro of his vehicle and phones.
He allegedly drove at high speed and drove towards the Kopje area.
The court heard that the vehicle was dumped along Kaguvi Street where Zinyengere almost drove into a spare parts shop.
He jumped off and disappeared.
It is further alleged that police managed to take fingerprints from the vehicle and on Monday they received a tip off that Zinyengere had returned from Mutare and wanted to hire a car at George Bus top in Ruwa. That is when he was arrested.
Meanwhile, three other people who allegedly assisted the duo to escape from lawful custody also appeared in court yesterday.
Spelile Zinyengere, Obey Rwaendepi and Tinotenda Zinyengere were all granted US$200 bail each by magistrate Isheunesu Matova.
