adminSaini Sakandya (63) of Mushaviri village under Chief Nyamandi allegedly used a poisonous herb known as murunjurunju, which he administered into the food in a bid to kill his neighbour Mr Rainos Makuyo (age not given) of the same village whom he suspected of bedding his wife.
The food ended up killing four other Makuyo family members namely, Enias, Enock, Innocent and Mercy (all ages not given) and Muketiwa Mangonyo (age not given), who also consumed the food two years ago.
Sakandya last Friday appeared before Gutu resident magistrate Mr Nyasha Vitorini facing six counts of murder.
He was remanded in custody to May 17 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Sakandya’s criminal charges followed an inquest into the death of the five Makuyo family members and Mangonyo at the same court whose findings were then forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for consideration.
The AG’s office ordered Sakandya’s prosecution for the death of the six.
Charges against Sakandya arose on October 23, 2011 at the Makuyo homestead in Mushaviri village where the five deceased resided.
The late Rainos and his other four Makuyo brothers had hired Mangonyo to build a house.
It is alleged that Sakandya wanted to fix Rainos, a teacher at a nearby school, after he got wind that he (the teacher) was having an affair with his wife.
On the fateful day, Rainos allegedly left his homestead armed with a poisonous herb known as murunjurunju which he administered into some food the late Innocent was cooking at the Makuyo homestead.
He allegedly intended to kill Rainos with the poisonous herb.The five Makuyo family members together with Mangonyo ate the food and died. Sakandya was arrested after an inquest. Ms Agatha Gabriel prosecuted.
Online Reporter