This was revealed at the High Court today during the cross examination of the investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Clever Ntini by the defence counsel led by Beatrice Mtetwa.
Mtetwa told the court that when Ntini and his team took Yvonne Musarurwa for indications they went to his house and forced her to put on MDC t-shirt before they proceeded to Glen View Police Station where they started video recording Musarurwa.
The police officers also forced Councillor Tungamirai Madzokere to make indications in front of a truckload of armed anti-riot police officers.
While in police custody, Councillor Madzokere was tortured and severely assaulted by police officers who included one Murira. The assault resulted in Councillor Madzokere’s arm being broken.
During his initial remand hearing at the Magistrates’ Courts, the magistrate ordered that the police should carry out investigations on the assault and torture charges. However, the police did not carry out any investigations.
Ntini today gave various conflicting evidence leading him to confess before the judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu that he was mixing up issues. Ntini also declined to name his informers who led to the arrest of the MDC members claiming that some of the informers were MDC members.
Before admitting that the evidence he was giving in court was conflicting, Ntini had claimed that some undercover police officers had been deployed at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre, where Inspector Petros Mutedza died.
Ntini had told the court that part of the undercover police officers were Spencer Nyararai, Solomon Mushaninga, Victor Magutarima and the late Chikura.
However, it was put to Ntini by the defence counsel led by Beatrice Mtetwa that the three officers were part of the police reaction group that was led by the late Mutedza leading Ntini to admit that there were no undercover police officers on the day in question.
This led the defence to point out to Ntini that those who were arrested were nowhere near the scene of the crime but only arrested through political profiling where MDC members in police records are arrested when a crime is committed.
Because of the police profiling more than 45 MDC members were arrested although some were released.
Among those arrested and released were Councillor Madzokere’s wife and sister who the police said would only be released after the police had nabbed the councillor. Others were seriously assaulted in police cells as the police sought to make them sign warned and cautioned statement that they were part of the people who murdered Mutedza.
The trial resumed today after a nearly two week break after the trial judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu and the State prosecutor, Edmore Nyazamba claimed that they were not feeling well. The trial continues tomorrow.
Post published in: News