Japhet Chimunhondo, a resident of Mt Darwin, has been handed a 35-year prison sentence for the fatal stabbing of a tobacco farmer during a robbery attempt.
Chimunhondo was approached by Nomore Mavhura, another villager, to assist in robbing Clifford Kadowa of his recent earnings totaling US$9,000.
Mavhura, seeking to borrow US$500 from Kadowa, was rebuffed, prompting him to devise a plan to rob him. Chimunhondo joined in the scheme.
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Armed with a knife, they broke into Kadowa’s home at night. A struggle ensued, leading to Chimunhondo fatally stabbing Kadowa in the altercation.
Despite leaving the scene empty-handed, Chimunhondo was later arrested and charged with murder based on evidence left behind.
Although Chimunhondo denied the murder charge, Justice Lucy-Anne Mungwari found him guilty of aggravated murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
This sentence exceeded the minimum presumptive penalty of 20 years due to the severity of the crime, Chimunhondo’s lack of remorse, and the potential risk of reoffending.
Justice Mungwari condemned the brutality and greed motivating the murder, highlighting the senselessness of the act.
She distinguished Chimunhondo’s sentence from that of his accomplice, Mavhura, who had shown remorse and cooperated with authorities. Mavhura is currently serving a 30-year sentence.