adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A FEMALE police officer stationed at Hillside Police Station in Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly shooting her colleague after she accidentally discharged a service firearm.
Melody Anna Marufu, 35, of Mpopoma suburb was not asked to plead to a charge of negligent or reckless discharge of a firearm when she briefly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove yesterday.
She was remanded out of custody to September 3 for trial.
Prosecuting, Jeremiah Mutsindikwa said on October 10, 2013, Marufu was on duty at Hillside Police Station when she received a caliber Norinco pistol for safe keeping from Leonard Kanukai Changunda.
Changunda, an Assistant Inspector, had obtained the firearm from Roy Thabani Sibanda.
The court heard that Marufu took the pistol for safekeeping while in the charge office and she was instructed by Sergeant Noel Mutika to carry out safety precautions on the pistol before handing it over since it was cocked.
However, when Marufu lifted the gun so that she could clear it, she accidentally squeezed the trigger and shot another police officer, Thabiso Moyo, who was seated in the charge office.
The bullet hit Moyo’s right side of the neck and once on the left middle finger and he was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for treatment. Marufu was subsequently arrested.
Online Reporter