JAZZ sensation Duduzile Tracy Manhenga (29) will know her fate today when Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi is expected to pass sentence after convicting her of culpable homicide and driving without supervision, yesterday.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER
Manhenga was convicted on her plea of guilty.
For the State, prosecutor Barbra Ndoro told the court that although Manhenga was a first offender, ordering her to pay just a fine would damage the public’s faith in the justice delivery system because the accused “exhibited gross negligence, which cannot be mitigated by the fact that the accused is a first offender”.
She urged the court to consider a minimum sentence of community service because the offence was compounded by the fact that Manhenga was not a holder of a valid driver’s licence when the accident occurred.
Manhenga, out of custody, was brought to court on summons over an accident that occurred three years ago which resulted in the death of a motorcyclist, Graham Martin Millward.
In mitigation through her lawyer, Manhenga pleaded with the court to consider that she was a mother of four minor children aged between five and 13.
She also said she was a useful member of society and an artist of repute.
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Manhenga also asked the court to take into consideration the delay witnessed in prosecuting her for an offence committed in 2010.
The State proved that on March 15 2010 around 14:15 pm, the musician was driving a Toyota Spacio along Sherwood Drive.
Millward, deceased, was riding his motorbike along the same road, but coming from the musician’s opposite direction.
The court heard that Manhenga turned right into a house in Mabelreign in front of Milaward’s oncoming motorbike.
Milward was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was taken to West End Hospital where he died on admission.
His motorbike is also said to have been seriously damaged.
The State argued that Manhenga turned right in front of oncoming traffic and failed to keep a proper lookout on the road ahead.
