Man denies stabbing girlfriend 15 times
By Lovemore Meya
Pritchard Zimondi, who allegedly fatally stabbed his girlfriend 15 times in Chitungwiza, denied committing the crime when his trial opened yesterday. He said he never saw the girlfriend, Monalisa Chinomona (19), on April 24, the day she was killed.
Zimondi (24) of Unit K in Chitungwiza made headlines recently after he was accused of killing Monalisa in cold blood after a dispute. But he denied the murder charges when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga.
Zimondi, an employee of TN Bank, was remanded to May 24 for continuation of trial. He was represented by Mr Norman Mugiya. Ms Mariga asked him to apply for bail at the High Court.
Mr Mugiya yesterday went to the High Court for the bail application, but had to withdraw it after the girl’s relatives followed him there to prevent him from doing so. “I had to strike the bail application off since there was a lot of confusion with the deceased’s relatives causing havoc at the court,” he said.
“The only option left for me was to have to strike it off. I will file the application soon after the situation is calm.” Mr Mugiya said the way the deceased’s relatives were behaving left him with no option since he also feared for his life. Zimondi squarely denied the charges.
“I had no squabbles with my girlfriend and on the day in question, I left home around 7am and went to Harare to do my business since I commenced duty at work at 4pm,” he said.
“I never saw her on the day in question. Our relationship had lasted for three years and my girlfriend had given me spare keys so that I could visit her at any given time. That is all I wish to say.”
Allegations against Zimondi are that on April 24 he visited Monalisa at House 7621 Unit K, Chitungwiza.
He reportedly entered the house unnoticed, headed to the kitchen and armed himself with a knife before proceeding to Monalisa’s bedroom where he found her sleeping and stabbed her 15 times on her left breast.
Pritchard reportedly left the knife stuck in the now deceased’s breast and fled the scene. He was later caught in Harare while trying to flee to Gweru, and was found in possession of Monalisa’s pant and bra. Mr Henry Muringani prosecuted.
