Mum ‘slayer’ denied bail

The assailant and the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, knew each other as they both lived on Mutare’s streets

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE High Court has dismissed an application for bail pending trial by a Bulawayo teenager who allegedly killed his mother and kept the body in the house for two days after she failed to repay 50 cents he had given her.

Tinashe Tadziwani of Cowdray Park suburb attacked his mother Regina Tadziwani (59) and when he discovered that she had died, he locked the house and went away.

Tinashe, who lived at home with his mother, went to his uncle’s home on the following day after committing the murder and informed him that he had injured his mother but did not say she had died.

The uncle sent the woman’s daughter-in-law to check on her on Friday, only for her to discover that she was dead.

The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa follows an application by Tinashe through his lawyers, Liberty Mcijo and Associates, citing the State as the respondent.

In dismissing the application, Justice Mabhikwa said given the gravity of the offence, there was no guarantee that if granted bail, Tinashe would not abscond. In his grounds of appeal, Tinashe argued that the there were no compelling reasons justifying his continued detention.

“There is no fear that if released on bail, the applicant will commit further crimes or similar offences. The applicant is of fixed abode and has no incentive to abscond or run away from this offence as evidence against him is purely circumstantial,” he said.

Tinashe said the State’s case hinges on a misunderstanding which he had with his mother prior to her death. He said there was no likelihood that he would interfere with State witnesses if granted bail. The State through Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza opposed bail, arguing that Tinashe was a flight risk. He said the
State has a strong prima facie against the accused person.—@mashnets.