Suspected robber disowns confession

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AN armed robbery suspect who allegedly raided city residents of property worth about $20 572 while wielding a machete, yesterday told court that the investigating officer forced him to admit to the offence.

AN armed robbery suspect who allegedly raided city residents of property worth about $20 572 while wielding a machete, yesterday told court that the investigating officer forced him to admit to the offence.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

The suspect, Blessing Mutero, said investigating officer Detective Assistant Inspector Zhira Mashindi had produced a gun and threatened to shoot him if he did not admit to the crime before showing him a number of photographs allegedly of people he had killed for failing to tell him the truth.

Mashindi had told the Bulawayo Magistrate Court that after arresting Mutero, he led him to the crime scene where a machete he used in the robbery was recovered.

Mashindi said Mutero had admitted to committing the robbery in a statement which he read and signed without any coercion.

“All the indications which he made during investigations leading him to the scene of the crime were on his volition without any force or influence,” said Mashindi.

“After all the indications he made, I wrote the statement which he was shown and asked if it was what happened and he agreed before he signed voluntarily.”

However, during cross examination, Mutero asked the cop if he did not produce a gun and threaten to kill him when he arrested him in Chegutu.

“Did you not show me some photographs of people whom you said you had killed because of refusing to tell the truth?” asked Mutero.

Mashindi denied the claims saying Mutero had committed the offence and had freely admitted during investigations through the statement that he had done so.

Allegations were that on December 8 2013 Mutero was at Fair and Square Investment at Compensation House along Joshua Nkomo Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue when he approached Caroline Mpofu and Evelyn Padya wielding a machete and took property belonging to Dumisani Kodzai.

Only property work $7 157 was recovered from Mutero.