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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
AN armed robber who is serving a 33-year sentence has been jailed for an additional 30 years and a life imprisonment term for murdering a taxi driver and robbing passengers at gunpoint.
High Court Judge Justice Joseph Musakwa sitting with assessors Samuel Mutomba and Elfas Gweru on circuit in Masvingo convicted Marshall Kurauone, 26, of Chief Bota area of murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of armed robbery.
Kurauone whose accomplice is still at large, had pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Justice Musakwa sentenced Kurauone to 10 years for one count of attempted murder and 20 years for three counts of armed robbery.
He slapped him with a life sentence for murder with actual intent.
Justice Musakwa described Kurauone as a wicked man who caused the loss of life in aggravating circumstances.
“Had it not been for the reservations on death penalty, you were going to be an obvious candidate for the hangman’s noose,” Justice Musakwa told Kurauone.
“You shot dead Mberikwazvo Chibharo during a robbery and injured a passenger, Innocent Mupoperi with a pistol.
“That shows you’re a dangerous person who should be removed from society,” said Justice Musakwa.
The judge said Kurauone was a trigger happy criminal who if not caged could kill more innocent people.
“You deserve the most severe punishment on earth,” said Justice Musakwa.
Prosecuting, Takunda Chikwati said on December 5, 2012, along Roy-Chiredzi road Kurauone and an accomplice boarded Chibharo’s Toyota Ipsum vehicle.
Kurauone, Chikwati told the court, took away cash and cellphones from three passengers at gunpoint.
“Upon arrival at Chinyerere Business centre, Kurauone asked Chibharo to lower the volume of the radio as they wanted to disembark. Chibharo slowed down the vehicle intending to stop and Kurauone shot him in the chest,” said Chikwati.
He said Kurauone and his accomplice then jumped out of the vehicle while it was still in motion.
The court heard that fearing for his life, one of the passengers, Innocent Mupoperi who was seated in the front seat- jumped out of the moving vehicle and Kurauone shot him on both thighs.
Yvonne Mkandla who was seated behind the driver’s seat, the court further heard, pulled the hand brake and managed to stop the vehicle.
“When the vehicle stopped, the armed Kurauone returned and demanded more cash from the passengers,” said Chikwati.
He said Mkandla surrendered $70 and a Samsung Galaxy phone, Emerson Manyoka handed over $360 plus a Nokia cellphone and Kephas Bhunu gave him a Nokia cellphone and $22.
“Kurauone and his accomplice later dragged the driver’s body out of the vehicle and left it by the roadside before fleeing towards Chinyerere Business centre,” said the prosecutor.
He told the court that on the following morning, a police officer identified as Assistant Inspector Mabika saw the corpse while travelling along the road.
Investigations were instituted leading to the arrest of Kurauone in February 2013 and the pistol used to commit the crime was recovered on him.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter