High Court to revisit Chillmaster’s “culpable homicide and driving without a license” case

HARARE – The High Court of Zimbabwe is set to review the case that saw singer Chillmaster escape jail time after he was sentenced to community service following his conviction for culpable homicide and driving without a license.

Chillmaster, real name Gift Hombarume, was fined US$200 for driving without a license and received a two-year sentence for culpable homicide last month from Magistrate Tatenda Mukurunge.

Twelve months of that sentence were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offense within five years.

The musician had been behind the wheel of the vehicle that took a pedestrian’s life in Harare’s Hopely suburb.

His sentence is now set to be subject to a review at the High Court, with Judge President Zimba-Dube set to determine if “real and substantial justice” had been delivered.

Magistrate Mukurunge, in her sentencing, also took note of these efforts, alongside Hombarume’s status as a first-time offender and the remorse he showed.

What seemed to have decisively swayed the outcome of the sentence was the victim’s family’s pleas on his behalf.

Coming to his defense, the victim’s family informed the court that Chillmaster had undertaken to look after his victim’s family following the accident, including compensating them with beasts to stave off avenging spirits.

“The family through Lucia Charumbira said he has undertaken to pay some beasts to avoid avenging spirits.

“He also undertook to send the deceased’s children to school and also to buy monthly groceries,” said the magistrate during the sentencing.