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Archford Gutu

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
The trial of CAPS United player Archford Gutu — accused of damaging another motorist’s vehicle following a misunderstanding in a drunken brawl — failed to commence yesterday after his lawyer sought a postponement to allow him to engage an advocate in the matter.

Gutu appeared before magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami who deferred the matter to June 13 for trial commencement.

His lawyer Mr Tinofara Hove told the court that he needed more time to give instructions to Advocate Lewis Uriri and the State did not oppose the postponement.

Prosecutor Mr Chrispen Chikafu alleged that on April 17 at around 4am, the parties met at an intersection in the Longcheng Plaza complex in Harare and their vehicles almost collided.

Gutu, who was driving in the company of his teammate Method Mwanjali, got out of the vehicle and charged towards Tonderai Nhunzvi who had three passengers aboard.

He accused him of reckless driving.

As Gutu was shouting, Nhunzvi closed his windows and this irritated Gutu who then smashed the vehicle’s windscreen using an unknown object.

He went back to his car, but Nhunzvi and his friends followed him and an altercation ensued after Nhunzvi asked Gutu to wait for the police.

As onlookers gathered around, Mwanjali also got out of the vehicle and exchanged angry words with Nhunzvi.

Mwanjali returned to the vehicle and allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Nhunzvi twice in the stomach.

Nhunzvi’s friend, Lionel Muchena, who tried to restrain Mwanjali, sustained a cut to his hand.

Mwanjali and Gutu then vanished from the scene, the State alleged.

Mwanjali will be back in court on May 30 for his trial.

He is facing attempted murder charges.