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Crime Reporter

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy, who allegedly broke into a house at Hallgate Business Centre in the Maramba area of Mashonaland East, was beaten to death by nine people who apprehended him.

The identity of the teenager, who died after admission to a local clinic, is being withheld.

Police have arrested two 19-year-olds in connection with the death.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident which occurred on Wednesday last week and warned the public against taking the law into their hands.

While the law allows citizen arrests when a suspected thief is caught red-handed, or when someone is seen assaulting someone else in any way, minimum violence in the circumstances needs to be used and once the suspect is restrained they have to be treated properly and turned over to the police as soon as is reasonably possible.

“The suspects in the killing took the unconscious victim to a local private clinic where he died upon admission. The police have since arrested Weston Karidza aged 19 and Alvin Sigauke aged 19 in connection with the case,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

In another case where it is suspected people took the law into their own hands, five security guards have been arrested in Harare’s Budiriro suburb on allegations of fatally assaulting a suspected thief at a car park in the area on Saturday.

Leon Thomas Jenje (37) died after the guards allegedly took turns to assault him with an electric cable, fists and a hoe.

“On August 20, 2022, police in Harare arrested five security guards in connection with a case of murder which occurred at Budiriro 3 car park on the same day at around 1am. Investigations are underway,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

An investigation has been launched into circumstances surrounding a killing after the body of a 26-year-old man was found with a deep cut on the head, lying on a path that connects Glen View 1 and Glen View 7 in Harare. The body was found on Sunday morning.

It is believed that the victim was attacked by as yet unknown assailants on his way home in Glen View 7 from a musical show that took place in Glen View 1. His body was discovered by residents in the area and a report was made to the police.

Asst Comm Nyathi said a manhunt has since been launched for the suspects.

Police in Colleen Bawn, Matabeleland South, are investigating a killing on Wednesday last week at a tuck shop at Vhovha Mine.

Mnanzeleli Mathambo died after he was stabbed on the thigh with an unknown sharp object by the suspect, Nyasha Dube.

The victim had allegedly failed to explain why he had joined the suspect and his friends at a fireplace where they were warming themselves.

Police in Mazowe are investigating another murder case in which Tavonga Mufunga (22) died after he was stabbed on the chest several times with a knife by six unidentified suspects also on Wednesday last week at Chawana Gold Claim, Jumbo.

The suspects stole two sacks of gold ore from the victim and the informant who was accompanying the victim.

Police are appealing for anyone with information that might assist in the investigations to contact any nearest police station.