Inmate jailed 15 years for attempting to evade justice 

Source: Inmate jailed 15 years for attempting to evade justice – herald

Zvikomborero Parafini-Court Reporter

THE inmate who robbed a prison officer, stabbed him and wore his uniform in a brazen attempt to escape from the Harare Magistrates Court, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Itai Madhongo (30) was convicted after a full trial before Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa.

Magistrate Mupeiwa dismissed Madhongo’s defence of insanity, in which he claimed he could not remember what transpired on the day in question.

Two medical practitioners examined Madhongo during the trial and concluded that he was mentally sound and fit to stand trial.

In passing sentence, the magistrate found that the escape bid was premeditated, noting that Madhongo’s decision to hide in sewer pipes after fleeing demonstrated that he was fully aware of his actions.

The State, represented by Ms Cecilia Mashingaidze, proved that on January 13, Correctional Officer Class One Decide Matura, who is stationed at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, was among prison officers escorting inmates to the Harare Magistrates Court.

Madhongo was scheduled to appear in Court 16 on charges of rape and robbery.

Upon arrival, Matura was deployed to Court 16 together with another correctional officer, identified as Officer Chimunhu.

All other inmates had their matters heard during the first session. However, Madhongo’s case was postponed to 11:15 am as witnesses were not in attendance.

At around 11:10 am, Matura escorted Madhongo to the Court 16 holding cells. After securing him with leg irons, Matura locked both the catwalk entrance and the court entrance, leaving the inmate alone in the cells before returning to the courtroom to await the second session.

While alone, Madhongo hatched a plan to escape. He knocked on the gallery door to attract attention.

When Matura responded and asked why he was knocking, Madhongo claimed someone was knocking at the catwalk entrance.

Matura opened the catwalk door to investigate, but found no one. As he turned to open the gallery door, Madhongo grabbed him from behind, choking him and stabbing him once in the neck with an unidentified sharp object.

He ordered Matura to sit down and threatened to kill him if he raised alarm. Madhongo then removed his leg irons using an unknown object before forcibly stripping Matura of his prison uniform.

He also took the officer’s identity card and cellphone, and placed leg irons on him. He also stabbed Matura in the eyes in an apparent attempt to blind him.

Believing the officer was incapacitated, Madhongo removed the leg irons from Matura, unlocked the catwalk door and fled the building dressed in the stolen uniform.

Matura managed to open the gallery door and alerted fellow officers, who immediately raised an alarm by blowing whistles.

A joint search involving prison officers and police stationed at the Harare Magistrates Court was launched.

Madhongo was apprehended hiding behind sewer pipes near Court 6. He was still wearing Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services uniform items, including light green denim trousers, a green shirt, an army green jersey and socks, but no shoes.

Police recovered Matura’s Samsung cellphone from him. Officers later returned to Court 16 cells, where they recovered several items, including prison clothing, leg irons, state papers, a smartwatch, combat shoes and other personal belongings.

For the robbery, Madhongo was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment and an additional two years for escaping from lawful custody, bringing the total sentence to 15 years.