admin
Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
A murderer, who had been on the run for 15 years, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail for fatally striking his elderly aunt with a log after accusing her of witchcraft.
Martin Mutondoro of Bikita was 30-years-old when he committed the crime in 2001.
Police arrested him last month following a tip off.
He pleaded guilty to murdering Anatoria Guchu who was 80 years old, accusing her of bewitching and killing his father.
High Court Judge Justice Joseph Musakwa sitting with assessors Samuel Mutomba and Elfas Gweru convicted him.
Justice Musakwa found Mutondoro guilty of murder with constructive intent and sentenced him to 15 years for the offence.
In passing sentence Justice Musakwa said the force reflected in the post-mortem report was excessive and meant to cause death.
The judge said Mutondoro could be given the benefit of doubt because he did not waste the court’s time when he pleaded guilty to the charge.
“The fact that you used both hands to assault the deceased justifies your intention to kill. Given the advanced age of the deceased, you were expected to be conscious of the results of your action and exercise some restraint. You deserve a sterner sentence to send a clear message in Masvingo that spilling precious blood is never cheap,” said Justice Musakwa.
Prosecuting, Tinayeshe Matenga told the court that in December, 2001 Mutondoro forced his two cousins to accompany him to Guchu’s homestead in the same village where he allegedly assaulted the elderly aunt using a log.
“On December, 15, 2001 Martin at around 9PM was coming from a beer drink at Matekede Village in the company of Moreblessing Mutondoro of the same village. On the way the pair met Daneer Mutondoro who was coming from the same beer drink,” said Matenga.
She said Martin asked Daneer why he was being cosy with Guchu when she was causing unspecified problems in the area.
The court heard that Martin and Moreblessing ordered Daneer to accompany them to Guchu’s homestead where they intended to assault both the deceased and her husband but Daneer refused.
“Martin hit Daneer with a log on his knees until he complied. At the homestead, Moreblessing knocked on the bedroom hut in which Guchu and her husband were sleeping,” she said.
Moreblessing, the court heard, persuaded Guchu and her husband to come out of the hut to discuss a minor issue.
The court further heard that when the couple came out, Martin ordered them to sit down. He went behind the hut and armed himself with a log.
Martin, said the prosecutor, struck Guchu twice on the head while Moreblessing hit her husband on the head with a knobkerrie.
The two fell unconscious and Daneer dragged them into their bedroom hut, preventing them from being further assaulted.
“The following morning Guchu and her husband were taken to Silveira Mission Hospital for treatment where they were later transferred to Masvingo General Hospital due to their deteriorating condition.”
“Guchu, who was not getting any better, was further transferred to Harare Central hospital where she died on December, 21,” said Matenga.
A post-mortem concluded that the death was due to a fractured skull-haemorrhage, blunt force trauma.
The report was available in court as exhibit. A report was made to the police leading to Moreblessing’s arrest but Martin could not be located.
Online Reporter