Lawyer says ‘killer’ cop not on the run

In all other circumstances, ignorance of the law is not a defence

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
LAWYERS representing an ex-policeman suspected to have killed his girlfriend in cold blood in a dispute over his marriage, have dismissed reports that their client is on the run.
The trial of Brighton Chagonda (30) on Tuesday failed to kick off at the Bulawayo High Court amid reports that he is now at large.

Chagonda who was based at Luveve Police Station allegedly killed Mrs Sithabile Ndlovu-Ncube before he later dumped her naked body in a storm drain on August 19, 2013.

Mr Jonathan Tsvangirai of Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners said police did not make an effort to look for his client because he was not indicted by prosecutors to appear in court. “Police have not looked for my client and there was no warrant of arrest issued against him. In fact, he (Chagonda) was refused further remand,” he said.

Mr Tsvangirai said his client, who has since been fired from the police and evicted from the ZRP Luveve Camp, was now based in Harare.

Chagonda was initially remanded out of custody on $500 bail which was granted by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha with stringent conditions which included reporting to the police thrice a week and to reside at the same camp which he gave as his address. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents to the Assistant Registrar of the High Court and not to interfere with witnesses.

The court heard that Chagonda and Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube (35) were lovers but the two were always fighting.

Chagonda allegedly assaulted Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube, a former illegal money changer popularly known as usiphatheleni, when she told him that her marriage was about to break down because of their affair.

It is alleged that on August 19, 2013, at about 1AM, Chagonda and Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube were outside house number 2554 in Cowdray Park when they allegedly had an altercation. Chagonda allegedly slapped her and also used sticks to beat up Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube, leaving her with bruises all over the body.

Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube’s body was found lying in a storm drain by neighbours the following morning who then called the police to the scene. Police took her body to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a postmortem.

Investigations led to Chagonda’s arrest

According to court documents, evidence linking Chagonda to the murder of Mrs Ndlovu-Ncube is that he was allegedly seen by neighbours assaulting her near the storm drain where her body was found.

It is also alleged that the clothes that Chagonda was wearing on the day in question had blood stains.— @mashnets