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Chief Court Reporter
The State yesterday filed its submissions in the murder trial of two men suspected of the ritual murder of Murehwa boy Tapiwa Makore, seeking a straight conviction for of the two.
The evidence presentation part of the trial was concluded last week after Tafadzwa Shamba and Tapiwa Makore Snr rested their defence case after being told the State had made a case that needed to be answered and rebutted.
Charges were withdrawn, and acquittals given, for the other two accused, Moud Hunidzarira and Thanks Makore, for lack of evidence.
Eight witnesses testified in the matter while the other two could not be located resulting in their evidence expunged from the summary evidence.
Of the eight one was impeached after she changed her story and was cross-examined by the State.
The chief prosecutor in the trial, Mr Albert Masamha, yesterday confirmed that the prosecution filed its submissions and is now waiting for the defence team to do the same today.
“We filed our submissions today as per the court’s directive,” he said.
“We are now waiting for the lawyers of the two men to file theirs by tomorrow (today).
“Once we receive their submissions we are going to respond on points of law and leave the rest to the court to make its judgment.”
Tapiwa was killed in a suspected case of ritual murder, allegedly by Shamba and uncle Makore Snr on September 17, 2020 in Nyamutumbu village, Murewa.
According to Shamba’s confession, the boy was drugged, killed and mutilated so that they could sell his body parts to a witch doctor for US$1 500.
The family faced continued grief after enduring over six months without laying his body to rest since they wanted to find boy’s head first.
The head was never found, resulting in the burial of the headless torso.
Lawyers Mr Moses Mavhaire and Munyaradzi Midzi are representing Shamba and Makore Snr for free while Mr Albert Masamha assisted by Mr Douglas Chesa is prosecuting.
Online Reporter