A MAN who m_rdered his friend for allegedly caressing the b_ttocks of a s_x worker he had hired has been found guilty and awaits sentencing.
Passwell Chiwaura (21) was arrested in August last year following the incident at Matomati Bar where he st_bbed Takudzwa Kavhuru (21) on the stomach with a beer bottle.
Chiwaura has been in pre-trial incarceration for the past 14 months.
He was convicted after a full trial by High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi.
On the fateful day, the dece_sed, Kavhuru, was on a beer binge with Chiwaura and the duo hired two s_x workers – Joyce Gwese and Patience Gezi.
The State said Kavhuru targeted Chiwaura’s choice for the night.
He caressed Gezi’s b_ttocks while Gwese watched.
Kavhuru once had a relationship with Gezi which Chiwaura was not made aware of.
Gwese then reprimanded Kavhuru and Chiwaura overheard the issue and intervened.
A scuffle ensued between Kavhuru and Chiwaura and the latter picked a broken beer bottle and st_bbed Kavhuru on the stomach before escaping the scene.
Kavhuru’s tummy raptured and his intestines protruded from it and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died upon admission.
In his defence, Chiwaura denied that he intentionally caused Kavhuru’s d_ath.
He said he mistook him for a thief, a gang att_cked him and in self-defence he picked the broken bottle and stabbed Kavhuru.
In his findings, Justice Mutevedzi highlighted that Chiwaura was not under an att_ck.
“It is for the same reason that this aspect of the accused’s defence remained tepid. It was not seriously argued. We dismiss it like we dismissed the accused’s argument of self-defence.
“In the circumstances, we are convinced that the State managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt as required by law, that the accused is guilty of the m_rder of the dece_sed.
“Accordingly, the accused is found guilty of m_rder as charged,” reads the ruling.
