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Sharon Chiware Midlands Reporter
A Gweru armed robber was last Friday sentenced to life in prison after he, together with two other accomplices, stormed a mine in 2015 and shot dead the mine owner and locked his body in one room with his employees.

George Magambutsu (36) of Mkoba 6 who was represented by pro-duo of Mr Sheperd Mafa of Dzimba, Jaravaza Associates had pleaded not guilty to murder when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Francis Bere who is in third and final circuit in Gweru. Magambutsu’s accomplices, Tichaona Marevengwa (34) and Learnmore Muzondiwa (28) both from Gokwe under Chief Chireya also represented pro-duo by lawyers, Mr Austin Sibanda and Mr Zivanai Tapera of Mhaka Attorneys and Magodora and Partners respectively,were sentenced to 30 years in prison each.

Justice Bere, sitting with assessors, Messeirs Wellington Matemba and Chipo Junior Baye found Magambutsu who triggered the fatal shot on the deceased, Handison Moyo, guilty of murder with actual intent. In his judgement, Justice Bere said Magambutsu’s unsolicited plea of guilty to the offence was a sign of honesty. He said Magambutsu admitted that he was the one who triggered the fatal shot on the deceased hence the decision to sentence him to life in prison than the mandatory death sentence. He said despite the fact that he realised that he had shot the late Mr Moyo, Magambutsu further ordered his accomplices to continue with their enterprise.

“However after you have shot the now deceased, you did not make any effort to render any aid as he lay on the ground. You continued with your aim of stealing. Justice Bere then sentenced Magambutsu’s other accomplices to 30 years in prison for aiding him in the fatal robbery. Prosecuting, Mr Tafadzwa Mupariwa told the court that on June 2015, Mr Moyo was at his mine with two of his employees when the three Magambutsu, Maverengwa and Muzondiwa stormed at the mine armed with a pistol. They ordered the employees and the owner to lay on the ground. They then stripped naked the now deceased and his employees and searched for gold carbon. As they searched, the now deceased, Mr Moyo then dashed to Magambutsu who was armed with a gun and tried to wrestle the fire arm away. Magambutsu shot Mr Moyo on the head.