A MAN who murdered his friend for allegedly caressing the buttocks of a sex worker he had hired has been found guilty and awaits sentencing.
Passwell Chiwaura (21) was arrested in August last year following the incident at Matomati Bar where he stabbed Takudzwa Kavhuru (21) on the stomach with a beer bottle.
Chiwaura has been in pre-trial incarceration for the past 14 months.
He was convicted after a full trial by High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi.
On the fateful day, the deceased, Kavhuru, was on a beer binge with Chiwaura and the duo hired two sex workers – Joyce Gwese and Patience Gezi.
The State said Kavhuru targeted Chiwaura’s choice for the night.
He caressed Gezi’s buttocks while Gwese watched.
Kavhuru once had a relationship with Gezi which Chiwaura was not made aware of.
Gwese then reprimanded Kavhuru and Chiwaura overheard the issue and intervened.
A scuffle ensued between Kavhuru and Chiwaura and the latter picked a broken beer bottle and stabbed Kavhuru on the stomach before escaping the scene.
Kavhuru’s tummy raptured and his intestines protruded from it and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died upon admission.
In his defence, Chiwaura denied that he intentionally caused Kavhuru’s death.
He said he mistook him for a thief, a gang attacked him and in self-defence he picked the broken bottle and stabbed Kavhuru.
In his findings, Justice Mutevedzi highlighted that Chiwaura was not under an attack.
“It is for the same reason that this aspect of the accused’s defence remained tepid. It was not seriously argued. We dismiss it like we dismissed the accused’s argument of self-defence.
“In the circumstances, we are convinced that the State managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt as required by law, that the accused is guilty of the murder of the deceased.
“Accordingly, the accused is found guilty of murder as charged,” reads the ruling.
