‘Fugitive murder suspect’ nabbed
AN injiva who allegedly axed his ex-wife (23) and the couple’s one year old son to death following a misunderstanding over the upkeep of the child has been arrested.
Themba Moyo (31) of Muarakati Village under Chief Sikobokobo, Nkayi was arrested after evading arrest for 10 days following the gruesome murder of his ex-wife Ms Netsai Maruvise and their baby boy Muthabisi Moyo in Mberengwa.
Moyo appeared before Mberengwa resident Magistrate Mrs Evia Matura facing two counts of murder. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to March 16.
Moyo was advised by Mrs Matura to apply for bail at the High Court.
Court papers indicated that Moyo worked in South Africa. Prosecutor Mr Michael Ncube said on February 23 at around 10PM, Moyo went to Nyama General Dealer Shop at Neta Business Centre in Mberengwa where his ex-wife Ms Maruvise worked and lived with his son.
The court heard that when Moyo arrived at the shop, he found Ms Maruvise sleeping together with their son and he woke her up.
Mr Ncube said while the two were talking Ms Maruvise confronted him on why he had been neglecting his child.
The court heard that a heated argument ensued between the two after the woman demanded money from him for the upkeep of their child.
“The two had an argument over the upkeep of their child. During the argument, it is alleged that, Moyo took an axe and struck his ex-wife repeatedly all over the body while the child was watching and she died instantly,” said Mr Ncube.
He said after murdering his ex-wife, Moyo struck his son several times all over the body and he also died instantly.
Moyo, the court heard, left the two bodies lying in a pool of blood in the shop and fled.
He was, however, arrested on Sunday after police got a tip off from members of the public. THE Emakhandeni murder “mystery woman” has been identified as a Form Two pupil at Njube High School.
Police have, however, said the pupil was not connected to the brutal killing.
Gift Moyo (38) a kombi driver was killed and dumped in Emakhandeni suburb on Thursday.
His family told The Chronicle a mystery woman had knocked on doors at two houses near the murder scene, minutes after residents had heard a loud argument believed to have led to Moyo’s death.
Moyo’s brother Mthokozisi last week told The Chronicle that the woman who was found in a toilet could have answers on how his brother died.
The woman is said to have slept in a toilet at one of the houses after residents did not open their doors for her.
Coincidentally, the pupil who had allegedly run away from home after her father assaulted her, sought refuge in a toilet near the house where Moyo’s body was found. This led to pronouncements that Moyo could have died in a fight over her.
The Chronicle spoke to the granny of a pupil who identified the “mystery woman” yesterday.
“Yes, my granddaughter identified her as pupil in her school. They are both in Form Two at Njube High School but they are not close. That’s all we know about her,” said Mrs Beauty Moyo.
Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday distanced the pupil from the murder saying she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Asst Insp Ncube said police have questioned the child and established that she was running to her aunt’s place when she stumbled on Moyo’s body.
“She is not linked to the murder. She had run away from her home where she claimed that her father had beaten her. She was running to her aunt’s place but unfortunately her aunt did not open the door for her leading to her sleeping in the toilet at a neighbouring house,” said Asst Insp Ncube.
He said investigations on the matter were still in progress although no one has been arrested.
Moyo’s body was allegedly found with fractured hands, with a deep cut on the neck, and several head injuries. — @nqotshili