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Court Reporter
Suspects in the trial of the foiled Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison jailbreak yesterday requested for post-mortem results of inmates who died during the melee.
Blessing Chauke (25) requested the post-mortem results, a copy of the Prison Act, Rules and Regulations and the Nutrition Guidelines, to strengthen his defence case.
Chauke is jointly charged with Robert Martin Gumbura, Lucky Matambanadzo (39), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38).
The nine are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, incitement in aggravating circumstances or alternatively conspiracy in aggravating circumstances for allegedly maliciously damaging property.
The prosecutor Mr Michael Reza told the court that the presiding magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo had ruled that it was improper for the accused to access the post-mortem results.
This infuriated Chauke who accused Mr Reza of lying to the court.
“The magistrate did not say that. Mr Reza should not misrepresent facts,” he fumed.
The magistrate, Mr Arnold Maburo, said he could not rule on the matter because he did not know the background.
The matter was postponed to November 3 and Mhungu gave notice to apply for refusal of further remand on the next remand date.
The accused are serving various sentences ranging from 12 to 40 years.
Mr Reza alleged that during the morning of February 13 in B Hall, Gumbura allegedly incited other inmates to protest over quality of food they were being given.
With the intention to escape, Chauke, Matambanadzo, Mhungu, Dodzo, Chacha and Chizema allegedly gathered and addressed inmates in C Hall and influenced them to refuse food.
It is alleged that at the same time Sibanda, Vhumbunu and the other three inmates who are now deceased were addressing inmates in D Hall to act similarly.
At around 9am, the inmates refused to eat the porridge which had no sugar and demanded to see the officer-in-charge, Chief Superintendent Marange, who then sent his deputy, Superintendent Dumbura to address them.
Before the food was served, Titus Mandikodza, who is now late, went on top of the roof through a hole in the asbestos sheets, which they had already drilled, the court heard.
Violence erupted, with prisoners vandalising property whose value is estimated at $450 000.
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