FRANCISTOWN — An illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe appeared before Francistown magistrate, Dumisani Basupi last Friday to answer to a single count of murder.
Innocent Nyoni (29) of Lower Gweru was not asked to plead to the charge of murder as the lower court does not have the jurisdiction to hear serious offences such as murder.
According to court papers, on January 21 near Selolwane ward at Tutume village in the central administrative district, Nyoni murdered 53-year-old Tshenolo Elias using a sharp object believed to be an axe.
Dressed in the same clothes he was wearing when he allegedly killed his victim, Nyoni did not show any emotions as he stood in the dock listening to the charge sheet being read for him.
When making an application for Nyoni to be remanded in custody, Prosecutor Phapidzo Kuda said: “Before the court is a suspect of a serious offence in the nature of murder.
“He is also a Zimbabwean national who entered the country through illegal means.
“He does not have proper traveling documents in the form of a passport so releasing him on bail at this juncture would jeopardize the ongoing police investigations.He is also a flight risk.”
Kuda the prison would be the safest place that the accused person could be kept because relatives and family members of the deceased were still angry.
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“The likelihood is that family members and relatives as well as friends might skin him alive,” the court heard. Given the opportunity to respond to the state’s denial for bail, said he had nothing to say.
He was then remanded in custody until February 7.
Nyoni has no legal representation.
— The Voice
