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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO Regional magistrate, Colet Ncube has blasted the police for failing to avail important exhibits on serious cases to the court thereby weakening state cases.

Speaking at a Victim Friendly Committee meeting in Masvingo yesterday, Ncube said police should handle exhibits with care as they have a bearing on judgments.

He said some investigating officers are used to just mentioning exhibits by word of mouth yet they contribute positively in coming up with judgments on serious cases like culpable homicide and attempted murder.

Ncube urged police investigating officers to be tactful and thorough if they are to supply the court with all the necessary material that help in the trying of cases.

“In cases of attempted murder both the prosecution and the court find it hard to determine whether the assailant had the intention to kill or not when there are no exhibits.

“The accused would admit to have assaulted the complainant but deny that he had an intention to kill. If the weapon he used is absent it then becomes a bit difficult to come up with a verdict,” said Ncube.

He said it is the investigating officer’s duty to make sure that the exhibits which support the charges laid against the perpetrator are brought to court.

“If an assailant uses a stone to strike a victim, that stone has to be shown to the court. Judgment will be based on the size of stone used. However, in most cases the stone is not availed. The investigating officer, who is a key State witness, will fail to provide sufficient information. Police should make sure that such exhibits are brought to court for easy determination of the intention,” said Ncube.

He said in most cases the Sate will return dockets back to the stations, if exhibits are not availed since no proper prosecution can be made without the weapons used to commit crime.

Ncube also said police officers often have challenges identifying accused persons adding that they need to improve on that.

The regional magistrate said in most cases there is no proper description of the offenders and thus creating challenges during trial.

“There is a need for a proper identification parade to be done. Of late there has been improper descriptions given of offenders and that definitely lets perpetrators of crime off the hook, thus doing injustice to the justice delivery system,” he said.