daniel chigunwe
Mathew Masinge
HIGH Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi has sentenced a man who murdered his wife to 20 years while lamenting the increase of deaths stemming from domestic disputes.
Justice Mutevedzi said that despite the courts passing stiffer penalties on offendersm the efforts are going to nought because the violence continues unabated.
His findings come at a time when the country has joined the rest of the world in observing the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The judge convicted Wellington Gwashure of the murder of his wife in cold blood.
The murder was sparked by a common misunderstanding between the couple.
Prosecutors managed to prove that Gwashure brandished wooden sticks to attack his wife, bashed her with booted feet and clenched fists.
The deceased collapsed during the assault, was pulled and paraded by Gwashure at their homestead’s courtyard before he went to tell his neighbour that he had assaulted his wife.
Upon Gwashure’s return he discovered that his wife had died.
Gwashure raised a lukewarm defence which the court dismissed.
Justice Mutevedzi found out that Gwashure used gratuitous violence in perpetrating the murder.
“The injuries, which were noted on the corpse, are testament to the extreme violence which he used.
“The deceased’s scalp was lacerated, her eyes were raptured among other injuries.
“He behaved like he was butchering an animal yet this was supposed to be a woman who must have sought protection from him,” said Justice Mutevedzi.
The judge added;
“The loss of human life through violence must always be frowned upon.
“In view of the above, we do not see any rational basis for imposing anything above the presumptive penalty stipulated in the sentencing guidelines which coincidentally is also the minimum permissible where a finding of aggravation has been made.
“Accordingly, the offender is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment,” reads the judgment.
Online Reporter