FOUR suspects who allegedly shot dead four people execution style about a fortnight ago in a suspected “botched ivory deal”, appeared before Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu yesterday facing murder charges. RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Japhet Muleya (33), Lovemore Mudenda (38), Hardlife Dube (20) and Robert Muleya (31), all of Binga, denied involvement in the murder of the deceased. Charges against the four as presented by prosecutor Bruce Maphosa are that on January 6 they shot dead Alvin Nyirenda (28), Mthulisi Leon Ndlovu (33), Nkosana Mdlongwa and Sithembinkosi Moyo with a high-powered rifle.
All four were found with gunshot wounds near Ngongonye Bridge on Nkonkane River some 15km from Manjoro business centre in Binga.
Nyirenda and Moyo’s bodies were found inside a white Isuzu pick-up truck registered to Mdlongwa, who is believed to have had links with poaching syndicates.
The four are believed to have been killed elsewhere and then brought to the area where the truck was pushed off the bridge in a bid to fake a traffic accident. Mdlongwa’s body was found nearby on the riverbed, while that of Ndlovu had been decapitated and found some 1,5km away from the staged accident scene in a field.
