Ritual murder trial postponed

Postponing the trial, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese sitting with Mrs Isabel Mashengele and Mr Stanley Hadebe as assessors said there was a need for the investigating officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Aaron Gadzai to bring all documentary evidence pertaining to the case.

The postponement came about as Mr Ndabezinhle Mazibuko, of Calderwood Bryce and Hendrie Legal Practitioners for Bhekimpilo Mthethwa was questioning him about a bra that was allegedly found in his bag.

Mr Mazibuko was putting it to the witness that the bra was planted in his client’s bag, but Det Asst Gadzai insisted that it was found in the bag and that it had been recorded in the exhibit book.

It is Mthethwa’s defence that the police severely assaulted him and that on his initial appearance before a Gwanda magistrate, the magistrate ordered him to go and remove his blood stained shirt.

When the trial resumes, Mr Mazibuko will continue with his cross-examination before Mr Nathaniel

Tawanda Mashayamombe, of Mashayamombe and Company for Nhlanhla Sibanda, cross examines the witness.

Mncedisi Ndlovu (18), Mthethwa (18), both from Gumani village in Stanmore and Sibanda (33), of Mtengwele Village, Ntalale area of Guyu, have pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder.

The trio, through their pro deo lawyers denied ever committing the heinous murders or mutilation of the dead.

They want the State led by Mr Whisper Mabaudhi, of the Attorney-General’s Office to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed the offences.

They all claim that they were severely assaulted by the police after their arrest so that they could admit to committing the crimes.

The State case is that between 18 November and 8 December 2010, the trio allegedly killed four people in the Stanmore area and mutilated their bodies before dumping the bodies in the bush or burying them in shallow graves.

Some of the dead people’s property was recovered allegedly through their indications.

Mr Charles Paul Moyo, of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners is defending Ndlovu.