Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
The trial of Prophet Walter Magaya, founder of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, who is facing four charges of rape, has commenced with the State seeking to have the matter transferred to a different court.
Led by Ms Tendai Shonhayi, the prosecution team has requested the transfer on the grounds that the presiding magistrate, Mr Francis Mapfumo, is also set to handle another rape trial involving Magaya on March 2.
Consequently, the case has now been placed before regional magistrate Mrs Estere Chivasa.
In a further application, State prosecutor Mr Clemence Chimbari has sought to have the trial heard in a Victim Friendly Court.
He argued that the complainants are emotionally and psychologically vulnerable, necessitating proceedings to be conducted in camera to protect their well-being.
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However, Magaya’s lawyer, Mr Admire Rubaya, has strongly opposed this application.
He contends that the trial should remain open to the public and not conducted in secrecy.
Rubaya insists that the State must provide concrete evidence to substantiate claims that the complainants are psychologically and emotionally affected.
Submissions on this contentious issue are ongoing, with Magistrate Chivasa expected to deliver a ruling on the State’s application soon.
The case involves allegations from four complainants, all of whom accuse Magaya of raping them at his Yadah Hotel.
