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Midlands Bureau
A 33-Year-old HIV-positive widower from Mberengwa, who splashed acid on his ex-girlfriend causing her to suffer 20 percent gangrenous burns that eventually killed her, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva, sitting at the Gweru circuit last week, described Ronald Zhou of Mangena Village, Chief Mahlebadza as an inherently wicked person.

Zhou flew into a rage and attacked his former girlfriend at her home when she ditched him.

Convicting Zhou of murder with actual intent, Justice Takuva said the man was a pathological liar who failed to tell the truth every time he opened his mouth in court.

Justice Takuva said the callous attack had left Zhou’s ex-girlfriend, Tendai Kurehwatira (28) unable to walk, eat by herself or even visit the toilet.

He said so heartless was Zhou’s conduct that Kurehwatira’s flesh was rotting and maggots were eating her while she was still alive.

“You committed a brutal attack on a defenceless woman and she suffered excruciating pain during the last days of her life,” said Justice Takuva.

He said Kurehwatira had a humiliating experience for an adult, as she failed to eat on her own, bath herself and relieve herself.

“You even caused the deceased’s children to become orphans,” said the judge.

“You are an inherently wicked person and cruelty to other human beings is unacceptable and, therefore, you are a danger to humanity itself.”

Justice Takuva, sitting with assessors Chipo Baye and Wellington Matemba, said he had considered life imprisonment or a very lengthy jail sentence but had taken into consideration that Zhou was HIV-positive and a father of two minor children.

He said Zhou had not even bothered to tell the court the reason why he committed the heinous act, but rather dished out lie after lie every time he opened his mouth to speak.

“You knew the liquid was toxic and decided to use it on a human being and you are sentenced to 25 years in prison,” he said.

The prosecutor, Mirirai Shumba, said on May 2, last year at around 7:30pm, Zhou visited Kurehwatira’s home to collect his clothes that he had left there.

The court heard that Zhou asked Kurehwatira’s brother, Macdonald Shava to call her.

“The deceased then came to the door and handed Zhou a plastic bag containing his clothes. The deceased then got into the house and gave Shava a jacket to hand over to the accused, who by then had moved away from the door,” said Shumba.

He said Zhou refused to accept the jacket, insisting on having an audience with Kurehwatira.

When Kurehwatira returned to Zhou, the court heard that he splashed acid which was in a plastic container on her face and fled from the scene.

Kurehwatira was referred to Zvishavane District Hospital where she was treated and discharged.

“Her condition deteriorated resulting in her death on June 14,” said Shumba.

He said the matter was reported to the police leading to Zhou’s arrest.