The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
FOUR Rusape youths who allegedly fatally assaulted a teenager on Christmas Day last year before dumping his body in a river were arrested and charged with murder.
The quartet, Leroy Nyagweta (18), Tatenda Mukamba (23), a 16-year-old juvenile (name withheld) and Tatenda Makuni (21) all from Village 19A, Mugadza in Headlands which is represented by Mr Munyaradzi Manyengavana of Chiwanza and Associates were not asked to plead when they appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Shane Kubonera.
State Prosecutor, Mr Gift Mutigwa told the court that the four had an altercation with the now late Terrence Kanyama (19) at a local shop. They assaulted him and his body was discovered four days later floating in a river.
“Leroy Nyagweta had an altercation with Terrence Kanyama inside a shop at Mugadza Business Centre in Headlands. They pushed each other. Terrence Kanyama struck Leroy Nyagweta with a fist at the back of his head. Terrence Kanyama ran away from the shop and the four accused persons ran after him.
“They caught up with him in a tobacco field some 230 meters away and assaulted him. They took him to a nearby water pond and scooped some water on him. Terrence Kanyama was not seen again and his body was later seen floating in Mwarazi River on December 29. The body was swollen and in early stages of decomposition.
“Accused persons admit chasing after the now deceased and catching up with him in a tobacco field. Leroy Nyagweta admits assaulting Terrence Kanyama on his back with open palms twice in the tobacco field.
“Post mortem carried by a local doctor ruled out drowning, but actual cause of death is to be established by a pathologist,” said Mr Mutigwa. Mr Kubonera remanded the quartet in custody to January 15.
