Two men from Fort Rixon who allegedly murdered their friend who had placed a bet using a torn two-dollar bond note while the trio was playing a gambling game have approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking bail pending trial.
Nyasha Muzungu (26) and Thokozani Nkomo (20) were not asked to plead to a murder charge when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ulekile Mlea-Ndlovu in October 2019.
They have been in custody since then.
The pair were allegedly gambling with Qhubani Moyo behind St Theresa Tuckshop in Fort Rixon when an argument ensued after Moyo had tried to place a bet with a torn $2 note.
According to State papers, Nkomo and Muzungu refused to accept the torn money but Moyo insisted that he use it as his bet resulting in an altercation.
They then abandoned the game and left for their homes while still arguing.
The trio met Moyo’s friend along the way and he defused the quarrel by offering to take him in for the night and calm him down.
The state further alleged that Moyo decided to set off for his home at around 2 AM and was confronted by Nkomo and Muzungu who were armed with stones and logs.
“Villagers neighbouring plot 29 Altyre, Fort Rixon were alerted that the two accused persons had assaulted Moyo and left him unconscious. They pursued the two and apprehended them. They took them to Fort Rixon police station where a report of attempted murder was filed. When police officers went to the scene, they found Moyo’s lifeless body, with blood spilt all over the place,” read the court papers.
In the bail application, the pair cited that they would not abscond court nor are they flight risks as they are not passport bearers.
They offered to deposit a sum of ZWL$300 each as bail and to reside at their residential addresses.
They also offered that they would report once a week at police stations which are nearest to their respective residential places.
