Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Reporter
Harare businessman Yitbarek Tekie, who had been absconding from court proceedings for three years in an attempted murder case, resurfaced last Friday, resulting in the cancellation of his warrant of arrest.
Tekie appeared before Regional Magistrate Mr Ignatio Mhene, who cancelled the warrant. He is facing attempted murder and animal cruelty charges arising from a high-profile altercation in Borrowdale.
The State alleges that in February 2022, Tekie and his alleged accomplice, Vanessa Evershed, confronted an elderly man, John Taylor, who was riding a racing horse near their residence.
The State is expected to present further allegations against the two in court.
Tekie allegedly accused Taylor of peeping into his property. Tekie then drove his car recklessly toward Taylor, hooting aggressively to agitate the horse and block its path.
He blocked the rider, stoned him, and physically tried to drag Taylor off the horse by pulling his leg.
Tekie allegedly struck the horse and is also being charged with cruelty to animals. During the initial trial proceedings, a key point of contention was CCTV footage captured by a nearby real estate office.
Tekie’s legal team fiercely challenged the State’s attempt to introduce the video evidence into the record, arguing that the proper legal procedures for discovery and electronic evidence presentation were not followed.
In March 2023, then Regional Magistrate, now judge Clever Tsikwa, ordered Tekie to pay a fine for willful default after he failed to appear in court on two separate occasions, leading to his temporary arrest.
Despite the State’s aggressive push to revoke his bail due to these defaults, the court maintained his free bail status while the legal proceedings continued.
