A 41-year-old Shurugwe man, who went on a rampage and shot his female employee with a Pietro Beretta gun, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Gweru Magistrate’s Court.
However, Tawanda Darangwa, who pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges when he appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Christopher Matururi, will serve a valid three-year sentence after being suspended for two years on condition of good behaviour.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Matoruri noted that Darangwa was drunk when he committed the crime saying this may have influenced his behaviour.
“I also believe that the perpetrator was remorseful as evidenced by the fact that after committing the crime, he transported the complainant from Shorugwe to Gweru for treatment and helped him pay medical bills amounting to US$2,000,” he said.
Judge Matoruri added: “What makes your crime more serious is that you used a weapon against a defenseless woman, especially since the victim was your employee.”
The agreed facts are that on 22 September 2021 and at Gutsaruzhinji Cooperative, Shurugwi, Darangwa shot his employee Marian Gwasarira once on the shoulder with a Pietro Berreta pistol for unknown reasons.
Prosecutor Sibanjani Thando Dube represented the State, and Darangwa was represented by a lawyer practicing law in Kwande. New Ziana
