adminMoses Pedzisai Mahuvava (30), Wellington Gadzira (38) and Joanne Nyasha Masiiwa (24) are accused of killing one of their cellmate, Abel Maphosa (56), after he allegedly refused to accompany them in their bid to escape from custody.
Maphosa was serving 18 years in prison together with Farai and two other accomplices, brothers, Edmore and Bothwel Gana after they were convicted by Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi of murdering Moses Chokuda of Gokwe in 2009.
Farai Machaya is the son of Midlands Governor, Cde Jason Machaya.
The three suspects arrived at the Gweru magistrate courts at about 11 am and were quickly whisked into the courtroom by heavily armed prison officers.
They were not asked to plead and the prosecutor, Mr Michael Mhene, only read the State outline, after which Mr Rubwe remanded them in custody to 20 December.
The State case against the trio is that on the night of 24 November, the three, who were sharing the cell with Maphosa, hatched a plan to escape from lawful custody.
Mr Mhene said the three then took a wire used to secure a cell light to create a hole on their wooden door.
He said there was no electricity that night owing to load shedding.
Mr Mhene said after creating a hole, the three then asked Maphosa who had refused to be part of their escape bid to accompany them out of the cell through the hole but he refused.
He said the three then acting in common purpose tied Maphosa with some strings from blankets and started assaulting him.
The court heard that the three inserted a cloth in Maphosa’s mouth as they assaulted him so that he would not scream for help.
Mr Mhene said after fatally assaulting Maphosa, the three then got out of their cell through the hole intending to escape from custody.
He said the two who were hiding in darkness, however, failed to escape from custody after electricity was restored while they were still trying to make their way out of the prison complex.
Mr Mhene said the murder case was later discovered by prison officers who were conducting routine checks the following morning leading to the rest of the three.
The three were still stuck with the body in the same cell when they were arrested.
Online Reporter