CAPS United players Method Mwanjali and Archford Gutu, who were arrested at the weekend following a stabbing incident, were scheduled to appear before the courts today where they are expected to plead not guilty.
The duo was taken into police custody in the early hours of Sunday morning after they were involved in a brawl which left one man admitted at Parirenyatwa after he was wounded by a knife.
The club said they will let the law take its course, but a source within the structures, who has been in touch with the players, yesterday said the duo is denying having used a knife during the fracas and have also disowned the weapon.
Makepekepe skipper Mwanjali is accused of assaulting the man with the weapon, but he has indicated to his superiors at the club that a lot of people joined in the fight and could not establish who had a knife in the melee.
The official said they will plead not guilty to the stabbing, but acknowledged that they broke the windscreen of the victim’s car.
However, CAPS United board member Alois Bunjira yesterday said the club’s official stance remained that they will not comment on the finer details of what transpired in the early hours of Sunday morning and will let the law to take its course.
“There has been media and social media speculation and conjecture regarding the incident at Longcheng Plaza involving our players, captain Method Mwanjali and Archford Gutu.
“We have heard various versions of the incident. We can neither confirm nor deny any version of the incident. We confirm, however, that the duo are assisting the police with investigations.
“Until the due process of the law is complete, we cannot comment on what may, or may not have happened. We urge extreme caution and patience as the law takes its course and avoid the trial of the duo in the court of public opinion.
“We must be categorical that the incident is regrettable; that we do not condone any form of reckless and/or violent behaviour regardless of the circumstances.
“We wish the injured persons a speedy recovery. We, at CAPS United, value life and lawful conduct in the resolution of disputes. We stand guided by the due process of the law,” said Bunjira.
According to police, it is alleged that between 3:30am and 4:30am Sunday morning, a man driving a Toyota Altezza was coming out of the Longcheng Plaza shopping complex, but was using the wrong lane.
He blocked a Nissan Elgrand that was driven by Gutu in the process and it is alleged that the former Zimbabwe youth international came out of his car and smashed the windscreen of the Altezza.
An argument ensued and that is when Mwanjali joined in and went back to their car, where he grabbed a knife before stabbing the complainant twice in the stomach.
The complainant’s colleagues managed to overpower Mwanjali and took the knife, but the CAPS United duo fled leaving their car behind. The injured man, who was taken to Parirenyatwa where he had surgery, is now reported to be out of danger and could be called to give evidence at the courts. The Herald
