By Tarisai Machakaire
CAPS United captain Method Mwanjali’s bid challenging his placement on remand in an attempted murder case was thrown out yesterday before he was remanded in custody to May 4.
Mwanjali and teammate Archford Gutu initially appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Tuesday.
Gutu was released on the same day on $100 bail as he is facing a lesser charge of malicious damage to property while Mwanjali was ordered to return to court yesterday.
At yesterday’s hearing, Mwanjali’s lawyer Tinofara K Hove claimed that his client was arrested on April 17 at 4am hence his initial court appearance on Tuesday around 8am was in breach of the 48-hour period within which suspects should appear before a court.
However, Mahwe ruled: “It is not logical that the accused persons were arrested at 4am because there was no way he would have been arrested before the complainant had reported a case against him. The State can therefore apply to formally have the accused persons placed on remand.”
Prosecutor Fransisca Mukumbiri then formally placed Mwanjali on remand before advising him to apply for bail at the High Court since he allegedly committed a third schedule offence. The investigating officer Batsirai Wafawanaka gave the court detailed information leading to Mwanjali and Gutu’s arrest.
“The complainant came to our offices between 4am and 5:30am to report a case of attempted murder against the accused persons. They were served by the officer-in-charge who was on night duty and when I got to work that morning Mwanjali and Gutu arrived and reported a case of malicious damage to property,” Wafawanaka said.
“While I was interviewing them, the officer-in-charge came and told me that Mwanjali and Gutu should be arrested because a complaint had been lodged against them earlier.”
Wafawanaka claimed the two CAPS United players were lying that they had been detained at 4am. He said they were arrested around 2pm the same day hence 48 hours had not lapsed by the time of their initial court appearance.
According to the State outline, Gutu and Mwanjali were at 1+1 Happy Club at Long Cheng Plaza when they decided leave around 4am.
When the duo was leaving the complex, Gutu’s Nissan Elgrand van almost collided with Tonderai Nhunzvi’s Toyota Altezza.
In a fit of rage, Gutu approached Nhunzvi’s vehicle accusing him of driving badly before smashing the windscreen with an unknown object.
Nhunzvi, together with his friends Lionel Muchena, Edgar Muchibwa and Marian Chikomo, then began arguing with Gutu as they wanted to go the nearest police station to settle the matter.
This attracted onlookers to the scene and Mwanjali, who had remained behind in Gutu’s vehicle also joined the melee.
Mwanjali asked Nhunzvi to explain what had transpired but there was a misunderstanding and the two began exchanging harsh words.
The court heard that Mwanjali went back to Gutu’s van and brought back a knife that he used to stab Nhunzvi twice in the stomach.
Mwanjali also cut Muchena on his right thumb when he tried to protect his friend.
The two footballers fled from the scene after realising they had committed an offence before resurfacing at Milton Park Police Station to report that their tyres had been deflated.
Nhunzvi was rushed to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he is said to be in a critical condition.
The investigating officer has not been able to speak to Nhunzvi yet. Daily News
