No joy for DJ Munya

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Star FM presenter DJ Munyaradzi Milimo and his alleged accomplices, Taurai Jani and Mohammed Matare, who are accused of kidnapping and murdering Tinashe Magorimbo through poisoning, will remain on remand after their second application for freedom hit a brick wall yesterday.

Through their lawyer, Mr Lucky Mauwa of Magomeza and Mazhindu legal practitioners, the trio made an application for refusal of further remand.

The three appeared before magistrate Mr Milton Serima who dismissed the application.

However, Mr Serima placed the State, led by Miss Sharon Mashavira, on notice to furnish the three with their trial date at their next appearance.

Mr Serima said if the State fails to provide them with a trial date on that day, he would free them.

“I want to see the progress of the case up to December 30 and if the State does not take the court seriously, the ruling will be in favour of the accused persons,” he said.

The matter was remanded to December 30 this year.

In their application, the trio through their lawyer argued that the State had no evidence linking them to the offence.

Their first bid for freedom was recently thrown out by a Harare magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe.

Milimo, Jani and Matare, who have been on remand for one and half years, argued that they have been on remand for an unreasonable time without going to trial.

They said the State was reluctant to prosecute them.

Miss Mashavira opposed the application on the basis that investigations were ready adding that findings had been submitted to the Prosecutor General’s office for preparation of indict papers.

She added that the trio has been on remand for a reasonable time.

“Murder cases can be considered for further remand refusal after three years in terms of the circular due to the complexity of the nature of the offence,” she said.

Miss Mashavira alleges that Magorimbo was murdered after failing to pay DJ Munya US$5 000 compensation for having an affair with his wife.

Magorimbo allegedly paid DJ Munya US$1 000 in February last year through Janhi and Matare in part payment of the US$5 000.

DJ Munya commissioned Janhi and Matare to “deal” with Magorimbo after he became evasive over the outstanding payment, the court heard.