shloboe boe
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A 40-year-old man and his 17-year-old son from Zvishavane have been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison by the High Court for murdering an 89-year-old grandfather, whom they robbed of his torch and knife at a bus stop.
Appearing before High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, Trenias Shumba and his son Tinevimbo, both from Madhuveko Village under Chief Mazvihwa, faced one count of murder. They were convicted despite pleading not guilty and were sentenced to 25 and 20 years in prison, respectively.
The prosecutor, Mr Thompson Hove, told the court that the two murdered Mr Siriyoti Taruvinga of Mhepo Village, Chief Mataruse, Mberengwa, on June 7 last year at around 4am. He explained that Mr Taruvinga and his relative, Mr Nicholas Machando, were waiting for transport at a bus stop in Chinda Village, Chief Mataruse, Mberengwa.
“The two accused persons and Tofara Zhou, who is still at large, suddenly arrived. Zhou snatched the deceased’s walking stick and used it to assault him indiscriminately all over the body. Nicholas Machando managed to escape,” said Mr Hove.
He added that the father and son, together with Tofara Zhou, kicked Mr Taruvinga with booted feet all over the body after he fell to the ground. The accused then searched the deceased, taking his knife and torch, before fleeing the scene.
Mr Taruvinga was taken to Murongwe Clinic, where he was treated and referred to Matibi Hospital. He was treated and later discharged.
However, on June 22, Mr Taruvinga collapsed at home and was taken back to Matibi Hospital. He was then referred to Masvingo for a CT scan, which he did not attend.
“On June 28, the deceased passed away. His body was conveyed to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where a full post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was a brain injury caused by the assault,” said Mr Hove.
During his testimony, Mr Machando stated that, on the day in question at around 4am, he accompanied his uncle, Mr Taruvinga, to the bus stop.
“While seated at the bus stop, the accused persons arrived. They started attacking us, and I managed to escape and went back to alert others at the funeral wake we had been attending,” he said.
Mr Machando explained that when they returned to the scene, the accused had already left.
“My uncle was lying on the ground with bloodstains on his face and clothes. Other relatives took him to the clinic,” he said.
He added that they later searched for the accused and managed to apprehend Shumba, recovering the deceased’s torch and knife.
Ms Luwini Shoko, the wife of Mr Taruvinga, testified that after attending a funeral, her husband and Mr Machando went ahead of her to the bus stop.
“Along the road, I met three accused persons. One of them snatched my handbag and slapped me once, demanding a mobile phone and money,” she said.
Ms Shoko said she gave them US$10, but one of them slapped her again.
“I fled and hid in the bush until sunrise. I later proceeded to the bus stop, where I found my husband seriously injured,” she said.
In his ruling, Justice Mutevedzi stated that the father and son deserved their prison terms for the murder of Mr Taruvinga.
“The first accused is sentenced to 25 years, and the second accused to 20 years in prison,” he said.
