By Innocent Ruwende
HARARE – Two men alleged to be Star FM DJ Munyaradzi Milimo’s accomplices in the murder of a Harare man, Mr Tinashe Magorimbo, are still in custody after failing to raise US$300 bail.
Taurai Janhi and Mohammed Matare were granted bail on Tuesday by High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa.
DJ Munya and the pair, who were still in their prison garb today, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei who further remanded them to August 16 this year after their lawyers requested for a longer remand.
DJ Munya is currently out of custody on US$300 bail.
Prosecutor Ms Junior Mugebe alleges that the DJ hired hitmen who kidnapped and murdered Magorimbo after he failed to pay him US$5 000 as compensation for having an affair with his wife.
In February, Magorimbo allegedly paid DJ Munya a part payment of US$1 000 through his alleged accomplices Janhi and Matare. After the payment, Magorimbo allegedly became evasive and DJ Munya is said to have engaged Janhi and Matare to deal with the now deceased.
Sometime in May, the prosecution alleges, PSMAI group human resources director Mr Henry Mandishona received a text message from cellphone number 0739 020 657 demanding a US$5 000 ransom for Magorimbo’s release. Magorimbo worked for Premier Services Medical Investments.
On the same day, DJ Munya allegedly went to Magorimbo’s residence where he met his wife, Millicent, and assured her that her husband would return home the following day. He allegedly ordered Millicent not to report the matter to the police.
The following day, the court heard, Millicent saw a naked Magorimbo, whose hands were tied with a blue shoelace, staggering as he approached the ground floor of their flat where he later collapsed.
Magorimbo was rushed to West End Hospital where upon admission, he was diagnosed of poisoning and died the same day in the intensive care unit. A post-mortem confirmed Magorimbo died of poisoning.
Meanwhile 5 of the 30 MDC-T supporters accused of killing police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glenview in May 2011 are still in detention nearly two years later without the trial having been finalised and being denied bail several times.
Tungamirai Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa, Rebecca Mafukeni, Last Maengahama and Simon Mapanzure are still locked up at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison while DJ Munya and his accomplices spent only 2 weeks in remand prison.
