THE defence in the culpable homicide case in which the driver of a Pathfinder luxury coach that was involved in an accident that killed nine people says he should be acquitted of the charges.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
The bus was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck near Shangani along the Harare-Bulawayo highway on December 7 last year.
Prosecutor Calington Dhliwayo on Monday said the State had enough evidence to close the case and was confident of a conviction against the driver, Bekithemba Masuku (38), who is currently out on $200 bail.
Dhliwayo told Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa that Masuku was speeding on the fateful day and as a result failed to act reasonably when the accident seemed imminent.
He said when the bus travelling from Harare to Bulawayo was at the 367km peg, it hit a cow and swerved into the oncoming traffic lane resulting in a head-on collision with the truck.
Four passengers in the Pathfinder bus as well as the driver of the truck and his passenger died on the spot.
Three other passengers died on admission at the United Bulawayo Hospitals while four others sustained varying injuries.
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However, Masuku’s lawyer Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga said he would apply for a discharge as he felt that the State’s case was weak.
Muchemwa is expected to respond to Nzarayapenga’s application of discharge on April 15 and make a ruling on April 25.
