Community up in arms about acquittal of murder suspect

Date: 03 October 2003 By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

The community have decided to chase Azwimpheleli Nemutudi (25) and Eunice Mariba (42) out of the village. The court acquitted Nemutudi on September 11, because of a lack of evidence to link him to the murder of Azwihangwisi Richard Tshivhase (47).

Nemutudi was arrested on July 10 this year, after the death of Tshivhase. His arrest came after Mariba had told the community and the police that he (Nemutudi) was the one who had killed Tshivhase. Mariba was confronted as the last person who was seen with Tshivhase, on the same day of his death.

She then told police that Nemutudi, a nephew of her husband, had attacked Tshivhase, because he suspected that the two were having an affair. Mariba was confronted after Tshivhase was found dead with fresh wounds on his cheek, two broken ribs and blood in on his private parts.

The court found Nemutudi not guilty and discharged him on the grounds that Mariba's statement was not reliable, because she did not report or tell anyone about the incident until the following day when she was confronted by the concerned community members.

However, Mariba said she was scared that Nemutudi would attack her further, as he had done on the day he had assaulted Tshivhase. Nemutudi was also discharged on the charge of assaulting Mariba because of lack of evidence. Mariba reported her case on July 21, almost twelve days after the incident had taken place.

The community says they are not happy about the court's decision. They decided to chase Nemutudi and Mariba out of the village immediately after the court's decision.

They say the decision was supposed to have been implemented last Sunday, but it was postponed because of rain. The decision is to be implemented on Sunday morning during a meeting to be held at the chief's place.

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Ndivhuwo Musetha

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