Cellphone theft sells off murder suspect

Michael Mashiri

A man who allegedly killed a man and stole his phone has been denied bail.

Tendai Mafidi, 29, of Eastview Phase 6, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with murder.

He will appear in court on April 12, for his routine remand and was ordered tol apply for bail at the High Court.

The State, through prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, alleges that on January 11, at around 2200 hours, Mafidi met the now-deceased Ngonidzashe Chabvuta, who was walking along the road.

It is alleged that he attacked him with an unknown object on the head, resulting in his death.

Mafidi then searched Chabvuta and stole his Samsung M13 and went away.

Chabvuta’s body was later found and a report was made to the police.

The State alleges that on January 12, at around 1100 hours, a few hours after the murder, Mafidi went to sell Chabvuta’s phone to Godknows Chikwengo, a second-hand phone dealer in Mbare.

The phone was later sold to one Owen Gava, a bus conductor plying the Harare-Nyamapanda route who began using it.

Police investigations led to the recovery of the phone and the arrest of Mafidi.