Thieves break into court

what sources say was an attempt to defeat the course of justice.
Officer Commanding Victoria Falls district Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiona confirmed the break in which took place on Tuesday.
Chief Supt Chiona said the criminals used duplicate keys to gain entrance into the office where the dockets were being kept.
He said the motive behind the stealing of the records could be an attempt to defeat the course of justice.
“Yes, I confirm that criminals broke into the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court and stole about six dockets.
“Police investigations are underway and we have since arrested a suspect who is helping us with investigations,” he said.
Chief Supt Chiona said a docket contains witnesses’ statements, scientific evidence of the commission of the offence, police running diaries and warned and cautioned statements of the accused which are vital for prosecution.
According to sources close to the incident, about two criminals pounced on the unsuspecting security guard manning the premises and tied his feet and hands.
They unlocked the doors leading to the office where some dockets are kept and selected the specific dockets they wanted.
“After that the security guard managed to untie himself and went and reported the matter to the police,” he said.
The source added that the dockets stolen were of partially heard cases and others that were nearing completion.
These included rape, fraud, armed robbery and car theft.
Legal experts said a criminal can be acquitted if vital evidence is missing for the purposes of the trial in a case.