Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
FIVE police officers have been cleared by the High Court on charges of killing a suspected armed robber who was believed to be behind a spate of robberies in and around Bulawayo and Esgodini areas in 2021.
Herbert Kanyinji, Bornwell Mahachi, Amigo Shumba, Norge Rapayi and Mbekezeli Bhebhe were acquitted after Justice Evangelista Kabasa noted that the State had failed to link them to the offence.
It was the State’s case that on March 30, 2021, the five cops were part of a seven-member crack team tasked with tracking down and arresting the suspect identified in court papers as Nkululeko Banda, also known as Alfred.
Armed with AK47 rifles, the team went to the suspect’s house and barged into his bedroom.
They apprehended him and went on to assault him indiscriminately, demanding to know his real identity.
The suspect reportedly identified himself as Alfred.
The police allegedly turned their attention to a woman who was in that room to verify the suspect’s identity.
The court heard that the suspect then sprung and tried to disarm Shumba, resulting in a scuffle. Alfred was eventually subdued and had his hands tied.
On a separate occasion, Alfred managed to escape, but was apprehended before being driven to Claremont on a recovery mission, as it was believed that a firearm was hidden there.
On the way, he reportedly had a seizure and as his condition deteriorated. He was driven to the hospital where he was eventually pronounced dead.
The five cops denied killing him stating that they applied force that was deemed necessary in the circumstances as he resisted arrest.
Online Reporter