Double life sentences for Benza cousins’ killers

◆ killed the two children in an abandoned home and concealed the bodies in a disused blair toilet. The abandoned homestead is close to Sambaza’s homestead. They attempted to cover the bloodstained grass using Sambaza’s hoe.

“Around 4pm on that same day, Melissa and Dylan were considered missing and a search for them commenced. Manyama told the search party that he had parted ways with the children close to their homesteads.

“The search continued till it was suspended around 8pm when Manyama indicated over the phone that he had left the children near Nyagambu River,” said Mrs Matsikidze.

The search resumed the following day and incorporated learners from Mbaza Primary and High schools.

About a kilometre from the school, the search party came across a patch of weeded and bloodstained grass. There was also a spoor of flattened grass which led to a disused toilet.

The children’s bodies were found in the toilet pit. When they were retrieved, both of them had a deep cut on the left side of the neck.

A further search led to the discovery of a bloodstained hoe and blood stained clothes from Sambaza’s homestead.

Post-mortem examinations concluded that the deaths of the two children were a result of severe neck trauma.

Testifying in court, Melissa’s father, Mr Douglas Taurai Benza said when he inspected the bodies of his daughter and Dylan, he noticed that they both had a deep cut on the left side of the neck and no other injuries.

“On April 13, I was working in my garden when Manyama passed by using a road beside the garden. We exchanged greetings and I asked Manyama if he had seen Melissa and Dylan. Manyama told me that he had seen them and left them near the Chiromba homestead.

“About 20 minutes after Manyama had left, my wife and mother arrived from a school meeting and told me that the children were not yet home.

“We waited in vain, and we decided to spread word that the two children were missing. A search commenced, but it was to no avail. I was present when my wife phoned Manyama to enquire where he had left the children.

“Manyama told her that he had left them near Nyagambu River. As the search continued, a neighbour, Mr Norbert Chiromba, called Manyama again, but he changed his statement and said he had left the children near the road,” said Mr Benza.

Sambaza’s mother, Ms Idah Pandukari said: “On the day in question, I left home to do my laundry at a nearby borehole. My son was at home when I left. Around 2pm, I saw Manyama walking along a footpath which is 30 metres from the borehole. He was being followed by Melissa and Dylan.” ◆