BULAWAYO - The inquest into the shooting of Tafadzwa Mapako’s late ex-husband and serial robber Shepherd Mhizha has been told how police shot him dead while they had gone to a bush to recover a pistol used in one of his robberies.
Prior to the shooting, the inquest was told that Mhizha endured three days with an untreated gunshot wound.
The inquest comes as Tafadzwa, who had married sungura legend Alick Macheso, is divorcing the musician in a case that spilled into the courts, earning her a $1 030 monthly maintenance on Thursday from the popular musician.
Bulawayo regional magistrate Chrispen James Mberewere, who acted as coroner in Mapako’s ex-husband’s inquest, heard on Thursday that Mhizha was arrested on July 24, 2011.
Mhizha had earlier been sentenced to 20 years in prison and was serving time at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for a string of armed robberies in Harare.
A bogus lawyer, however, secured his release after which he committed more armed robberies.
He was later arrested in Bulawayo after a source tipped off the police, who shot him in the leg before arresting him.
Mhizha then led detectives to a bushy area to recover a pistol used in the robberies.
While at the scene, police claim the robber, who was in leg irons, seized a pistol and raised it, prompting the detectives to shoot him.
He was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
At the time of his arrest, he had an untreated gun wound. But the inquest heard that police kept him in custody for FROM P1
three days up to July 27 when they shot him dead.
Recounting facts on the medical report, a State doctor told the inquest that the gunshot wound on the deceased’s left leg should have been attended to quickly because the infection would spread to the whole body. There was no doubt the deceased was in pain, the State doctor testified.
The doctor said the deceased was prone to face hardships in walking, making it easy to be caught if he attempted to run away.
The police however said they shot Mhizha because he was sprinting away.
The doctor said he was in pain and infection had probably started to set in, and the wound was bleeding.
According to State witnesses, Mhizha was struggling to walk, weak and looked like somebody who was definitely going to die any time.
The court heard that there were many bruises on his back and on his shoulder.
The inquest was told that Mhizha was assaulted by the police using batons, a chair and fists on his back.
The doctor said he was not able to establish when the bruises were inflicted.
The next mark of violence was a gunshot wound which was angled at the back, meaning the police shot him from behind.
The State said some witnesses testified that the deceased had not been fed since the day he was arrested and the doctor also confirmed that Mhizha’s stomach was empty.
There was also no urine in his bladder, probably indicating that he was dehydrated.
The ruling on the matter will be made on June 13.