Vigilante quartet jailed 10 years each for murder

Mike Mashiri

High Court judge, Justice Lucy Mungwari, sentenced two men and two women to 10 years imprisonment for beating to death a man they accused of being a thief.

Justice Mungwari convicted Bridget Muzadzi, Greystone Rufaro Chihoro, Edwin Rusike and Rita Kamera of causing the death of Aleck Kaitano, after a full trial.

She condemned the act of murder and said the court had a duty to uphold the sanctity of human life.

The quartet pleaded not guilty, Muzadzi and his son Chihoro told the court that Kaitano was assaulted by a mob which could have led to his death.

They admitted having witnessed the assault, but denied taking part.

It was the State’s case that on April 11, 2020, Kaitano arrived home from a beer drink at around 7pm.

He turned violent and started destroying household property.

He then went to Nechiva Village where the four live.

Villagers were suspicious of Kaitano, thinking he was out to steal.

Muzadzi, Chihoro, Rusike and Kamera and other villagers, surrounded Kaitano and questioned him about his intentions in their village.

They assaulted him and he sustained serious injuries.

A Good Samaritan called his wife who alerted other family members.

When they arrived, they found Kaitano writhing in agony and rushed him to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Post-mortem results showed that Kaitano had suffered head trauma.

Witnesses nailed the quartet in their testimonies.

The judge condemned vigilante justice and said no one has the right to take the life of another, regardless of the circumstances.

 “It should be made clear to the accused that no one has the right to take the life of another regardless of the circumstances.

“It was, therefore, crucial for the accused to exercise self-control as the loss of a life is irreparable.

 “Once a person’s life is taken, there is no way to bring him back.

 “Each accused is sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment,” ruled Justice Mungwari.