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Leonard Ncube Court Reporter
THE 2014 High Court legal year officially opens today with 21 murder cases set down for hearing at the Bulawayo High Court this first term. Judge President Justice George Chiweshe will preside over the official opening in Bulawayo, where people from all walks of life, including senior politicians, academics, the media, members of the legal fraternity and judiciary are expected to converge.
The Judge President would start the day by inspecting a guard of honour at 10am ahead of the main proceedings.

A total of 21 murder cases have been set down for hearing this first term of the 2014 legal year, which runs until March 27 at the Bulawayo High Court.

The court would set the ball rolling tomorrow with a partially heard case of Danis David Konson, 60, who allegedly shot his girlfriend, Siphathisiwe Ncube, 27, in Jotsholo last year twice in the head at point blank range killing her instantly for ending their relationship.
Konson also reportedly shot a police officer, who had accompanied him to the scene.

Next week there will be a case of a teenage hooker Prisca Mudyanadzo, who is suspected to have been used as bait by a robbery syndicate who would kill unsuspecting victims.

The teenager allegedly frequented nightclubs in Bulawayo, targeting big-spending patrons before luring them to dark alleys for quickies.  Unbeknown to the men, a gang of robbers would be lying in wait.

Another high profile case lined up is a partially heard matter of black empowerment activist Sonny Kuzomunhu Chasi, who is facing charges of murder and rape.

Chasi, 74, of Richmond in Bulawayo, is charged with the murder of his wife, Dorcas Majola, then 41, soon after his release from prison in November 2012.

Chasi had served seven years for fraud and when he was released, he found his wife pregnant upon which he allegedly beat up her until she died.  Chasi is also facing six counts of raping his 12-year-old daughter in 2008.

Mduduzi Timothy Mathema and Isaac Nyakurerwa, who allegedly killed a security guard at Mutize Flea Market along Lobengula Street by hitting him with a plank on the head last year, will also be tried for murder.  The two allegedly went on to steal vendors’ wares.
Their trial starts on February 11.