adminMathew Masinge
A DOMBOSHAVA man has been jailed 30 years for the murder of his uncle, who he accused of encouraging his brother, to join a Nyau dance crew.
Killian Tagarira, 49, committed the heinous act in 2019, when he confronted the deceased, Bernard Majaji, 87.
In his defence, Tagarira claimed he could not remember anything which transpired on the day in question.
He claims he was drunk when the incident happened.
He also claimed he had no memory of attacking the late octogenarian but remembered he visited his uncle to convey a message of death.
However, it was Justice Munamato Mutevedzi’s finding that Tagarira’s defence was baseless and he was guilty of committing the murder.
“What aggravates this crime is that this was a callous murder of a defenceless octogenarian without any provocation.
“The 87-year-old was awoken from his sleep at the ungodly hour of 0200.
“The accused broke down a door to the deceased’s bedroom and dragged him out.
“He mercilessly bludgeoned him to death.
“The savagery and barbarism of the attack was unmitigated.
“The accused gave the deceased no opportunity for survival as illustrated by the fact that the deceased failed to even cry out for help.
“Although the examination was in death, the pathologist said the deceased was old and emaciated.
“The old man certainly died a painful death and a very frightened man,” reads the judge’s finding.
Justice Mutevedzi said Tagarira deserved the ultimate sentence.
“There is, therefore, in this case, the sad reality of a combination of aggravating circumstances under which the murder was perpetrated. That increases the accused’s moral blameworthiness to levels that barely miss the tipping point for us to impose the ultimate sentence.
“Accordingly, the accused is sentenced to 30 years imprisonment,” ruled the judge.
Online Reporter