Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
ONE of Mai Jeremaya’s suspected assailants, Thabo Blessing Dube, suffered a setback yesterday after the presiding magistrate dismissed his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
The application, made by Dube’s lawyers, argued for acquittal saying the State had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
However, Magistrate Mrs Letwin Rwodzi ruled that the State had sufficiently established its case and the trial must proceed to the defence phase.
Dube took the stand as the first defence witness, claiming that his role was merely to connect Mai Jeremaya with his friend Martin Charlie for a meeting.
Next, a lodge manager provided crucial testimony regarding the events of that day.
“I work at Paradise Lodges and I manage lodges number 11 and 15 on Frank Johnson Road (now Zororo Duri Avenue).
“I check the cameras to ascertain if the bookings and the money made are balancing,” he said.
Asked to explain to the court what happened on the day in question, the manager said he saw Charlie entering the lodge.
“I viewed the cameras a day after this case had allegedly occurred and I saw accused person number two (Charlie) coming to the reception as captured by the camera. He entered in a silver GD6 with a number plate at the front and it didn’t have one at the back.”
He told the court that it was impossible for one to enter the rooms before paying, as claimed by Mai Jeremaya.
In her evidence, Mai Jeremaya said Dube entered the lodge using another door and found him inside the room.
“It’s not possible to enter before paying, one pays at the reception and room allocations are done there. My records say Charlie was given room number six,” said the manager.
Lawyer Mr Shepherd Makonde further asked: “Was there another entrance that could be used to enter the room.”
The manager replied: “No all our rooms have one entrance with an en-suite inside which has a toilet and a bathroom and they have no extra door.”
Mr Makonde tendered video footage of the lodge on the day in question.
The State alleged that on April 9, Dube contacted Mai Jeremaya, inviting her for a meeting but they failed to make it.
On April 30, she received a WhatsApp message from Charlie who invited her for a meeting and they hooked up at Megawatt Building along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare and he drove to Number 11, Zororo Duri Avenue in Eastlea.
Charlie allegedly went into the building on the pretext of going to see his boss, and came back in a few minutes.
He allegedly came back with a certain lady called Sbahle and they got into the car and drove to town, where Sbahle dropped off.
They drove back to Eastlea, where Charlie parked at the lodge.
Mai Jeremaya was allegedly told to go inside the room where the meeting was supposed to be held, but was said to have been shocked to see a bed.
When she turned back, she allegedly saw Charlie locking the door and Dube entered the room using another door, locked it and started laughing. The two allegedly took turns to rape her, before threatening her and ordering a taxi for her. The trial resumes on June 30.
