A POLICE officer based at Sauerstown Police Station in Bulawayo was yesterday slapped with an effective 15-year jail term for killing a suspect in a bid to induce confession in a case of malicious damage to property.
BY SILAS NKALA
Sergeant Proud Moyo (28) represented by lawyer Nozabelo Ndlovu was found guilty of causing the death of Samson Ncube (20) while his co-accused and Constable Mavis Mutema (26) was acquitted when they both appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva.
The court heard that the police officers nabbed Ncube and severely tortured him for stoning a vehicle belonging to an unnamed complainant on March 5 2011.
Ncube died five days later inside his father’s garden as a result of severe torture by the police officers.
Takuva said witnesses called to testify had proved that Moyo assaulted Ncube with a baton stick and fan belt to force him to admit the charge. Takuva said Moyo acted poorly in conducting his duties before convicting him.
“The court will consider that you are a first offender and you served the police force for 13 years without committing any crime,” Takuva said
“It has been submitted by the lawyer that you said you are sorry about what you did.
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“I agree with the State that court must uphold sanctity of life.
“Assault is violation of one’s dignity and is akin to torture. It brings Zimbabwe into disrepute by tarnishing its image.”
“What is painful is that the now-deceased died for a petty offence like malicious damage to property which did not even warrant incarceration of the suspects.
“For these reasons you are sentenced to 18 years in jail. Three years is suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.”
In acquitting Mutema, Takuva said her identity in the scene does not come out clear even from the State witnesses.
