By Dumisani
Tawanda Darangwa who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will, however, serve an effective 3-year jail term after 2 years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
A 41-year-old Shurugwi man, who ran amok and shot his employee with a Pietro Berreta Pistol, was sentenced to 5 years in jail by Gweru Regional magistrate Christopher Maturure on attempted murder charge.
The accused, Darangwa who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will, however, serve an effective 3-year jail term after two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Despite the aggravation nature of the crime, in passing the sentence, the Regional Magistrate Maturure said that he considered that the accused was the first offender the and submission by the offender’s defence from Kwande Legal Practitioners that Darangwa was drunk when he committed the crime as this might have influenced his action.
“I also consider that the offender was remorseful as evidenced by the fact that after committing the crime he ferried the complainant from Shurugwi to Gweru for medication and assistance by paying medical bills in the sum of US$2 000,”he said.
Magistrate Maturure also said he considered submissions by the state that the crime was committed in aggravating circumstances by using a lethal weapon in form of firearm which is a very serious crime. Because of that the crime attract a custodial sentence of not less than five years.
“What makes your crime more serious is that the accused used a weapon to a defenceless woman especially that the victim was his employee. The accused deserve an imprisonment sentence as the only way he can make him reform, hence is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment sentence, 2 years suspended for five years on conditions that he does not committee offence of violence in the next five years for the attempted murder as defined in section 47(1) of the Criminal Law
Agreed facts are that on the 22nd of September 2021 and at Gutsaruzhinji Co-operative, Shurugwi, Tawanda Darangwa attempted to cause the death of Marian Gwasarira intending to cause such deathor realising that the a real risk or possibility, that is to say Tawanda Darangwa shot Marian Gwasarira on the shoulder once with a Pietro Berreta pistol.
Public Prosecutor Sibangani Thando Dube represented the state.
