adminNokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A COMMUTER omnibus driver and his tout were yesterday stunned after a magistrate altered their assault charge to attempted murder.
Provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo said the injuries sustained by their victim, whom they shoved out of a moving vehicle, were too severe to warrant a mere charge of assault.
Christopher Mugari, 52 and Raymond Moyo, 25, a driver had come to court for routine remand for allegedly shoving Fortunate Tambirai, 31, out of their kombi following a misunderstanding.
Tambirai fell to the ground and was dragged on the tarred road for some metres.
She sustained a fractured knee, bruises on her hands, legs and back.
Tambira was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital where she was admitted.
Mugari and Moyo — who looked jovial as they entered court — were visibly shocked when the magistrate told them the charge had been altered and they would be remanded in custody to April 16.
Magistrate Moyo advised Mugari and Moyo to apply for bail at the High court.
Prosecuting Mufaro Mageza told the court that on February 10 this year, at around 9AM, Tambirai boarded a commuter omnibus from the city centre to Emganwini.
“On the way, Tambirai arranged with Moyo and Mugari that they drop her near her house off the normal kombi route. However, when they arrived at Tasha’s shopping centre in Emganwini, the driver made a sudden U-turn and refused to drop her as agreed,” said Mageza.
A misunderstanding arose between the three resulting in them pushing her out of the moving vehicle, the court heard.
She fell on the ground and she was dragged for a distance as she was holding onto one of the men’s clothes. The matter was reported to the police leading to Moyo and Mugari’s arrest.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu