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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
TWO men from Mambale appeared in court for allegedly killing their neighbour and burning the body in a bid to conceal the crime.
Elliot Ncube (31) and Unity Ndlovu (27) allegedly beat up German Nleya to death on August 20 after accusing him of stealing their property.
They burnt his body throughout the night using firewood and hid the remains in a cave.
The pair was arrested on Monday following a tip off from a villager.
On Thursday they appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere facing murder charges.
They were each remanded in custody to December 6.
Mr Manwere advised them to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said a missing person’s report was filed with the police after Nleya disappeared.
“On 20 August Ncube and Ndlovu waylaid Nleya and demanded their property which they alleged he had stolen. They assaulted him several times after he failed to comply with them.“They continued interrogating him up until he revealed that he had hidden the stolen property in a cave in the mountains. They force marched him to the location and continued to beat him up all the way,” he said.
Mr Mazorodze said along the way, Nleya complained that he was tired, thirsty and hungry and could not continue walking.
He said the pair left him in the mountain to fetch some food for him at a nearby homestead. The prosecutor said when they returned, Ncube and Ndlovu found Nleya already dead.
“The two men then decided to burn the body in order to conceal the offence. They collected a heap of firewood and burnt Nleya’s body throughout the night until it became ashes.
“They collected his remains and hid them in three different places in the mountains and left the scene unnoticed,” he said.
Mr Mazorodze said Nleya’s family subsequently reported him missing after they failed to locate him.
He said last Saturday, a villager revealed that he had last seen Nleya with Ncube and Ndlovu arguing over stolen property.
He said investigations led to the arrest of the two men. A human skull and ashes which were in a plastic bag were recovered.
— @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter