By Judith Matanire
Former CID officer Jaison Muvevi has been sentenced to four life terms plus an additional 40 years in prison after the High Court convicted him on four counts of murder and attempted murder linked to a deadly shooting spree that rocked Harare, Wedza and Mutare.
Muvevi was found guilty of killing Nyarai Round, Chrispen Kanerusine, Inspector Maxwell Hove and Munashe Majani during a series of attacks carried out over three months.
The court also convicted him for attempting to kill four other people during the violent incidents that shocked the nation.
During trial proceedings, Muvevi denied the charges and claimed he was mentally unstable at the time of the murders, alleging that he was being tormented by goblins and evil spirits.
His defence team argued that his behaviour during the attacks showed signs of diminished responsibility and mental illness.
However, Justice Gibson Mandaza, sitting with assessors Temba Kuwanda and Hossiah Mujaya, dismissed the defence after psychiatric experts ruled that although Muvevi suffered from mild to moderate psychosis, he still understood the nature and consequences of his actions.
The court heard that after some of the killings, Muvevi seized firearms from police officers before fleeing to Mozambique, where he was later arrested and extradited back to Zimbabwe.
Among the victims was Inspector Hove, who was shot three times, while prophet Chrispen Kanerusine was allegedly killed following a dispute linked to a prophecy.
With four life sentences and an added 40-year jail term, Muvevi is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
