Chilling death threats from ex-hubby

A MUTARE man died a few days after receiving death threats from his estranged son-in-law, thereby prompting his family to suspect foul play.

This was revealed at Mutare Civil Court last week on Thursday as Ethel Mangoyi was applying for a protection order against her ex-husband, Denny Tinacho.

The estranged couple appeared before Ms Ivy Musavengana, who granted the protection order in Mangoyi’s favour.

Mangoyi told court that her father died after receiving death threats through Tinacho’s letter.

She said her mother is also a recipient of Tinacho’s death threats.

“I have also been receiving threatening letters from Tinacho and I am afraid that I will also die in the same way my father died. My father was not ill when he received the letter. However, he suddenly fell ill and died a few days later. We are now suspecting that Tinacho had a hand in his death and we all fear for our lives,” she said.

She said Tinacho is sending their child to deliver the chilling letters to her.

“I am afraid that he might also be threatening our child and abusing him. He refuses to grant me custody of the child. He is doing that because he wants me back in his life, but I have lost all affection for him. If someone no longer loves you, is it worth their parents’ lives?” she said.

However, Tinacho dismissed the allegations.

“Her father died because he was not feeling well. I did not kill him as she is alleging. He was my father-in-law and I liked him. I never threatened him and I think that as a family, they should accept that our time on earth is limited and only God can take us away. I never did anything to kill her father,” he said.

He went on to tell the court that he is bitter because his wife deserted him when he was out of the country.

“I am the one who took this woman to South Africa during the subsistence of our marriage. However, she returned with our son and dumped him at my parents’ home. She went back to her parents’ home.

“I never divorced her. When I approach her or her family, my intentions will be to find out why she deserted me. I am prepared to correct my mistakes and rekindle our love. I never threatened her or her family,” he said.

Tinacho also denied barring Mangoyi from accessing their minor child.

In her ruling, Ms Musavengana granted the protection order in Mangoyi’s favour.

The order bars Tinacho from insulting, threatening, harassing and stalking Mangoyi and will be valid for five years.

Ms Musavengana also advised Mangoyi to make a separate application for the custody of her child.