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Auxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
THE trial of Isaac Muunganirwa, a serial armed robber who is facing three counts of attempted murder, failed to start at the Tredgold magistrates courts in Bulawayo yesterday as the accused suffers from a speech impairment. Muunganirwa, who is serving a 24-year sentence for armed robbery following a previous conviction in 2006, mumbled and slurred his words so much that the interpreter could not understand him.
Regional magistrate Mark Dzira postponed the trial and ordered the state to engage experts to assist the court to communicate with Muunganirwa.
“The trial of Muunganirwa cannot continue today because of the speech problem, he cannot testify. Therefore the state has to engage experts who assist people with speech impediments to help the accused in order for us to move forward,” said Dzira.
The state immediately resolved to engage Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe Trust (LCDZT), a non profit making organisation that represents and safeguards the interests and rights of people with speech challenges and other disabilities.
Muunganirwa, who was remanded to Friday, had made an application for a pro-deo lawyer arguing that his rights might be violated because of his speech challenge.
The notorious armed robber is facing three counts of attempted murder for firing four shots at four policemen who had chased him for more than 15 kilometres following a bank robbery in 2002.
Muunganirwa, who terrorised Bulawayo residents in a series of armed robberies and carjackings with four of his siblings, was transferred from Chikurubi Maximum Security Complex where he was incarcerated for a previous crime to Khami Prison earlier this year.
The state led by Tinashe Dzipe alleges that on August 25, 2002, police officers spotted Muunganirwa at Nxele near the Plumtree Border Post where he was hiding.
The asked to search him but he dropped a satchel he was carrying and fled.
“As three policemen were chasing him, he fell down and drew a pistol before firing at them.
“The police managed to evade the attack by ducking down and returning fire. Muunganirwa, however, managed to escape and disappeared into the bush,” said Dzipe.
He said Muunganirwa was later arrested following a dramatic shootout with six members of the Support Unit after running out of ammunition.
The pistol used in the crime was not recovered.
Muunganirwa, who at one time escaped from police custody, was part of a five-member gang that robbed people at gunpoint before their arrest in 2001.
He was convicted and sentenced to an effective 24 years in prison but two of his brothers were later acquitted.
His other brother Christopher was shot dead in Botswana during a robbery in July 2006.
When Muunganirwa was arrested, he had been on the run for four years and his luck ran out while attending funeral.
In 2006, he was sentenced to 36 years in prison with 12 years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The armed robber has been languishing in jail since July 2006, imprisoned for his part in the robbery of MBCA Bank in Belmont, Bulawayo.
Online Reporter