Embattled Zimbabwe Warriors midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi has been acquitted of attempted murder charges following his trial on allegations of scalding his four-year-old son with hot water in South Africa.
Mahachi was acquitted of two separate charges of attempting to kill his son.
This follows the former Supersport United footballer’s trial at Tredgold magistrates’ court in Bulawayo.
During trial, Mahachi’s lawyer Nkosiyabo Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers said his client should be acquitted on discharge arguing that the three “key” witnesses who testified in the trial gave contradicting statements.
In passing his ruling, trial magistrate Mark Dzira concurred with the defence’s arguments saying the State failed to prove the essential elements of the case adding that evidence given by the witnesses was contradictory and disjointed.
Dzira also said medical experts who examined the child could not figure out the cause of the injuries hence tilting the benefit of the doubt towards the footballer.
Allegations were that on a date unknown but between 25 February 2022 and 14 April 2022, Mahachi assaulted his son with an iron bar on the head and mouth and further poured hot water all over the minor’s body.
He was also said to have assaulted the child with a charger cable all over the body.
As a result of the alleged assault, the child sustained serious burns and injuries all over the body.
After the alleged assaults, Mahachi was said to have failed to take his son to the hospital for medical attention but instead “smuggled” him back to Zimbabwe by a cross border transporter popularly known as omalayitsha.
The talented midfielder was in July this year also acquitted of theft charges by a Bulawayo magistrate.
He was being accused of snatching and damaging an XP iPhone belonging to his sister, Meline.
Mahachi allegedly snatched the phone in an attempt to destroy evidence relating to the alleged abuse on the child
