Former police detective Jaison Muvevi, who is facing four murder charges and four counts of attempted murder, told the High Court that he was experiencing disturbing hallucinations at the time of the alleged crimes, claiming he was being tormented by goblins.
Muvevi appeared before Justice Gibson Mandaza, alongside assessors Temba Kuwanda and Hossiah Mujaya. Both the prosecution and defence agreed to admit statements from 29 witnesses and related evidence without contest, meaning the State will only call the psychiatrist who evaluated Muvevi to give oral testimony.
According to the prosecution, Muvevi allegedly carried out a series of shootings over a three-month period starting on November 19, 2022. The incidents reportedly occurred across Harare, Hwedza, and Mutare, resulting in the deaths of four individuals—Nyarai Round, Chrispen Kanerusine, Inspector Maxwell Hove, and Munashe Majani—while four others were injured. He was later arrested in Mozambique on January 15, 2023, before being extradited back to Zimbabwe.
Represented by lawyer Jackie Sande, Muvevi’s defence argues that he was mentally unstable during the period in question. The defence described him as agitated and plagued by hallucinations, asserting that the attacks were random, carried out in public during daylight, and followed by unusual behaviour, including assaulting victims after they had already been shot – actions they say point to severe mental disturbance.
The court also heard that medical professionals diagnosed Muvevi with a mental illness after his arrest, leading to his admission to the psychiatric unit at Chikurubi Prison, where he has reportedly been receiving treatment for the past three years.
Proceedings have been postponed to Monday, when the psychiatrist is expected to testify. The court will then determine whether Muvevi can be held criminally accountable or should be acquitted on the grounds of mental illness.
