For killing his friend, Takudzwa Kavhuru, during a dispute over a commercial sex worker at Matomati Bar, a 21-year-old man, Passwell Chiwaura, has been convicted.
The incident occurred after Kavhuru reportedly grabbed the butt of a companion Chiwaura had hired for the night.
Justice Munamato Mutevedzi of the High Court found Chiwaura guilty of murder after a year-long pretrial detention. The sentencing date is yet to be determined.
H-Metro reported that the altercation took place last year when Chiwaura, Kavhuru, and two commercial sex workers, Joyce Gwese and Patience Gezi, were drinking at the bar. The situation escalated when Kavhuru touched Gezi, whom Chiwaura had hired.
Gwese reprimanded Kavhuru, leading to a confrontation between him and Chiwaura. According to the prosecution, Chiwaura overheard the exchange and confronted Kavhuru, and a scuffle ensued.
During the fight, Chiwaura grabbed a broken beer bottle and stabbed Kavhuru in the stomach, causing fatal injuries. Kavhuru was rushed to a nearby hospital with his intestines exposed but succumbed to his injuries upon arrival.
During the trial, Chiwaura denied intending to kill Kavhuru, claiming self-defence. He argued that he mistook his friend for an attacker amid a perceived gang threat. However, Justice Mutevedzi dismissed this argument.
“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 self-defence argument,” said Justice Mutevedzi.
The court concluded that the State had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Chiwaura was guilty of murder.
Chiwaura has been in custody for 14 months and will be sentenced at a later date, with the court expected to weigh the severity of the crime.
