Forensic evidence sends armedr obber to jail five ...

Forensic evidence sends armedr obber to jail five years later

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A 41-year-old man who is allegedly connected to a murder which took place in Chitungwiza in 2019 during a robbery has been charged with murder.

Jealous Samoyo was arrested after investigations revealed that his name was registered to a gun which had been fired during the robbery.

The State alleges that on July 11, 2019, at around, Samoyo together with Job Vambe, already remanded and others who are still at large went to rob the now deceased, Wellington Marongedze.

They allegedly went to his place of residence with iron bars, a golf stick and a firearm.

"They used force to get into the house through a kitchen door and proceeded to Marongedze's bedroom where he was asleep with his wife Mavis Ndewere.

"Samoyo and his accomplices started assaulting him with iron bars and a golf stick all over the body demanding money and valuables.

"One of them fired one shot towards the roof threatening to kill Marongedze.

"They allegedly stole ZWL$70 and an Itel phone from Marongedze's trousers pocket.

"They continued assaulting Marongedze demanding money. He then directed them to his car which was parked outside where they took US$1 000 from the dashboard.

“The accused and his accomplices fled from the scene leaving Marongedze seriously injured,” the court heard.

He was referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital since his condition was getting worse and was admitted in the intensive care unit where he stayed until July 28, 2019. He died due to the injuries sustained.

A spent cartridge was picked at the scene and was taken to CID Forensic Ballistics for examination.

On June 7, 2024, a Brescia pistol serial number 116914 was recovered after having been abandoned at the crime scene in Chitungwiza.

It was sent to CID Forensic Ballistics for examination and the results proved that the firearm was the one fired on July 19, 2019, at the now deceased's house and it matched the cartridge that was recovered at the scene.

The investigations proved that the gun was registered in Samoyo's name.

It is alleged that Samoyo said the firearm was with Job Vambe who signed for the firearm and its certificate at a gun shop but did not handover the firearm to him for a year.

Samoyo was ordered to appear in court on September 25, 2024.