Bellarmine Mugabe (left) and Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze (right) are back in court. Image: Daily Maverick
(The Post News) – Bellarmine Mugabe (28), the son of the late Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze (33) are back in court today for sentencing proceedings over an attempted murder.
The matter has been postponed by the Alexandra Regional Court to Wednesday next week. During a previous appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and contravening immigration laws. His co-accused, Matonhodze, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He also admitted to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, defeating the ends of justice, and contravening the Immigration Act. They have been demanded in custody since Februay.
Pair Charged in Connection with Shooting Incident
Police arrested Mugabe and Matonhodze in February over the alleged shooting of a 23-year-old man in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. The victim believed to be a security guard was hospitalised in a critical condition after the alleged shooting. According to the pair’s legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, the state and the defense had entered into a Section 112 plea deal after initial plea and sentence negotiations collapsed.
A police investigator, Lieutenant Colonel Raj Ramchunder previously told the court that the accused, who were allegedly present when the shooting occurred and the victim was injured, were not cooperating with police. He said the accused did not assist police with searching for the firearm. “Based on the attempted murder, a firearm was used to commit this crime, we are still looking for this firearm. Both the accused were there when the firearm was fired and injured the victim, the accused show no remorse assisting the police in any way to point out where the firearm is,” Lieutenant Colonel Ramchunder testified.
Defence advocate Laurence Hodes previously asked the court for suspended sentences or fines instead of jail time, and for permission for them to leave the country to finalise the matter. “Should this court be inclined to impose a fine albeit a hefty fine tour worship both accused are in a position to pay they have the money set aside and the arrangements could be made, the monies can be paid this weekend by Monday including the purchase tickets to Zimbabwe your worship,” said Hodes.
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