Investigations in a case in which a 36-year-old Zimbabwean man is charged for the murder of his Motswana girlfriend in October last year are said to be complete.
The accused person Eric Nyoni is alleged to have on that fateful night (12th October) murdered his girlfriend, Kebatshabile Machaba at Sanyedi Ward in Maun.
According to court papers Nyoni and the deceased who is the mother of his 1-year-old child are alleged to have on that fateful night at around 2300 hours had a misunderstanding leading to the accused person allegedly hitting the deceased with fists. The accused is then alleged to have left the deceased home and went out for entertainment.
Upon his return at around 5am the accused person found Machaba lying motionless and he then proceeded to Maun police station to report the matter. The deceased was then rushed to Letsholathebe II memorial hospital where she was certified dead, while Nyoni was subsequently arrested as the prime suspect of her murder.
Nyoni is also facing another count of illegal entry into the country.
Appearing for status update before Maun Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu on Tuesday, state prosecutor Maitshwarelo Thomas revealed that investigations on the matter are complete. She noted that they are yet to prepare the case for committal to high court. Thomas pleaded for the accused person’s further remand.
For his part Nyoni requested to be served with all documents relating to the case arguing that there are certain things he does not understand and want to have a look at as well as seek advice elsewhere.
Nyoni was on his previous mention denied bail by Mulalu who indicated that he took into account the fact that the accused person is facing a serious offence of murder that attracts a longer prison sentence or a death penalty hence it may lead to him absconding from court.
He further noted that he also took into account the accuse person’s illegal immigration status adding that he failed to surrender any of his travel documents but rather produced an identity card application letter to prosecution.
He further emphasised that granting the accused person bail based on the document will be condoning and endorsing the document as an identity card for the Republic of Zimbabwe.
During his bail arguments last year after state objected his bail application, Nyoni told court that he is not a flight risk arguing that though he knew he was an illegal immigrant, he handed himself at the police after finding the mother of his child motionless in their house. He will appear in court again on the 28th of July for status update.
