Suspected arsonist, murderer appears in court and denied bail

Desire Dewa (26) of Maribha Village under Chief Mataruse, who is unemployed, was not asked to plead when he  made an initial appearance before Zvishavane magistrate,  Mr Tawengwa Sangster, facing a charge of murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Dewa, who was out on bail on another charge of assaulting the mother of the two children, was remanded in custody to 20 December.
The State, represented by Mr James Wirima, opposed bail after it emerged that Dewa defaulted court on 21 November in a case of assault involving Ms Lydia Mangena, the mother of the two deceased children.

Mr Wirima also opposed bail since the accused, who is an ex-soldier, was wanted for another murder case which he allegedly committed in Masvingo. The State alleged that the accused shot dead a fellow soldier while stationed in Masvingo.
Agreed facts are that on 21 November this year, in Musekiwa Village, Chief Mataruse, Dewa went to Ms Mangena’s homestead as he was proposing love to her.

Mr Wirima said previously, the accused had assaulted Ms Mangena and the assault case was before the Zvishavane magistrate’s courts.
The court heard that upon arrival at Ms Mangena’s homestead, Dewa knocked on the door.
Ms Mangena responded and the accused then demanded that she opens the door as he wanted to ask for forgiveness for the assault matter which was pending at the courts.

Mr Wirima said Ms Mangena refused to open the door.
He said she was with her two children, Pretty Kangausau,  a girl aged six, and a 23-month-old baby boy, Nigel Hungwe.
Mr Wirima said when Ms Mangena refused to open the door,      the accused became violent.

Sensing danger, Ms Mangena removed a window pane from the room where she was sleeping with her children and jumped out through the window, leaving her two children behind.
Mr Wirima said the accused heard Ms Mangena landing and ran behind the house where she was.
He said Ms Mangena ran away with the accused in hot pursuit.

The court heard that, Dewa, however, stumbled on a  tree stub and fell.
Mr Wirima said Ms Mangena went to the house of Mr Austin Marume, a member of the neighbourhood watch committee   and reported the matter.
He said Dewa immediately returned to Ms Mangena’s    grass thatched house and set it on fire, killing Ms Mangena’s two children who were sleeping inside.
The court heard that the boy, Nigel, was burnt beyond recognition while Pretty sustained severe burns and died on her way to Mnene Hospital the following day.