Armed robber jailed 3yrs

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday jailed for three years for axing and attempting to rob a taxi driver he had hired. Blessing Mukanda of Mukarati Village, Wedza, hired Joseph Mutonhodza from town on the pretext that he was going to Mabelreign. He sat in the back seat. Along the way, Mukanda withdrew an axe and struck the unsuspecting Mutonhodza. The taxi driver was seriously injured.

Mukanda was convicted of attempted murder by regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa. He was sentenced to six years in jail. Three years were set aside for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.

In aggravation, the prosecutor Mr Michael Reza proposed 20 years. He said Mukanda’s intention was to kill.

“The convicted person was on a crime committing spree on that evening considering the weapon he was in possession of. When he jumped out of the vehicle he left a bag full of clothes the origins of which he failed to explain in court, so he must have stolen them,” he said.

“He even throttled him when he realised that he was not dead, Your Worship. It is clear that he wanted to kill the complainant. He deserves 20 years in prison.”

On May 4 at around 9pm Mukanda hired Mutonhodza from the city intending to go to Mabelreign.

When they reached Sentosa, Mukanda ordered Mutonhodza to slow down. He suddenly withdrew an axe and struck Mutonhodza at the back of his head.

Mutonhodza tried to fight back but was strangled and punched.

He lost his front teeth.

Mutonhodza managed to press the horn with his foot. This attracted police who were on patrol in the area.

Mukanda jumped out through the window and disappeared in the dark. He accidentally dropped a national identity card in the car. Police used the identity card to trace him.

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