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HIGH Court judge, Justice Lawrence Kamocha has jailed a Shurugwi polygamist 18 years for murdering his first wife in 2010 over a phone call she had received. Noel Nkomo, who was aged 31 at the time he committed the crime, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Grace Zulu, when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Kamocha who was on circuit in Gweru.
However, Justice Kamocha sitting with assessors, Messrs James Lex Dhlula and Wellington Takawira Matemba found Nkomo guilty of murder with constructive intent and jailed him 18 years.
Noel was represented pro deo by Kwekwe lawyer Mr Charles Chigomere of Mutatu and Partners.
Prosecutor Mrs Rossa Takuva told the court that Nkomo was at home with his wives Zulu and Ms Georgina Mbiri watching a movie on television. At about 9pm, Zulu retired to bed while Nkomo remained in the lounge with Ms Mbiri.
Nkomo later removed the DVD they were watching at about 10.30pm and replaced it with a musical disc.
He turned on the television set’s volume to full blast, left for the bedroom where Zulu had gone and locked the door.
Ms Mbiri told the court that she distinctly heard her husband assaulting Zulu over a phone call she had allegedly received.
She said Zulu’s screams could not be heard clearly owing to the loud music that was being played in the house.
At about 11pm, the court heard that Mr Sergeant Nkomo, young brother to Noel, arrived and Noel stopped assaulting Zulu.
Noel came out of the bedroom and opened the main door for his young brother to get into the house.
Ms Mbiri told the court that Noel informed her that he had a fight with Zulu but did not know what had happened.
She decided to go straight to the bedroom where she found Zulu lying on the bed.
Ms Mbiri noted that Zulu’s eyes were black-rimmed and that she had a cloth tied on her left ankle.
She also observed that Zulu was breathing heavily.
Ms Mbiri said she advised Noel to take Zulu to hospital but he resisted, arguing that he would do that the following day.
The three, Noel, Ms Mbiri and Zulu slept on the same bed.
The following morning, on 14 October at about 6am, Noel hired a car to ferry Zulu to hospital. He was assisted by Mr Sergeant Nkomo.
The two returned with Zulu’s body and Noel informed Ms Mbiri that the hospital authorities had advised them that Zulu was already dead by the time they got to the hospital.
Mr Raphael Nkomo, brother to Noel and Sergeant Nkomo, was informed of the death and he in turn reported the matter to the police in Shurugwi.
Online Reporter