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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A Chitungwiza man, accused of gorging out a policeman’s eye after hitting him with an empty beer bottle, is on the run and was slapped with a warrant of arrest yesterday after he failed to appear in court. Fanuel Tapera (25) of no-fixed-abode is out of custody after being granted $200 bail by Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo. Tapera denied assault charges.

He was remanded to yesterday for trial after being ordered to report everyday at Dema Police Station from Monday to Friday for two weeks as part of his bail conditions. However, his lawyer Mr Tichaona Mutebere was put to task by Mr Murendo after he turned up at court alone. Mr Mutebere said: “I was informed by the accused’s brother that he left for a church service and was late in coming back,” he said.

This did not go down well with Mr Murendo who tore into him. “Does a church service become more important than court business?” asked Mr Murendo. Mr Mutebere said the court would have to find out more from his client when he is located. Prosecutor Ms Ntombikayise Nleya told the court that Constable Muyeye Mufudzi (29) stationed at Chitungwiza Police Station was at Unit N Shopping Centre at around 10pm.

He was with Cst Prosper Mabvundwi and a relative, Fidelis Chiwa. When they were leaving, Chiwa reversed his vehicle and it crashed into Tapera’s car. Chiwa disembarked from his vehicle and tried to negotiate with Tapera, while Cst Mufudzi and Mabvundwi remained inside. Chiwa later got into the vehicle with the intention of removing the car from the road to clear the way for other motorists.

This did not go down well with Tapera who followed Chiwa and switched off the engine. Cst Mufudzi then tried to reason with Tapera to park his vehicle off the road. However, Tapera became violent and charged at Cst Mufudzi ordering him to stop interfering in the matter.

Tapera allegedly armed himself with an empty beer bottle and struck Cst Mufudzi once on his left eye and he started bleeding. Cst Mufudzi had his eye removed due to the injuries sustained.