Vendor accused of killing cop during demo back in court for assaulting another police officer

Barnabas Mwanaka (35) who is on remand on a murder charge after allegedly killing a police officer during a demonstration on June 29, appeared before Magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Thursday facing charges of assaulting and defeating or obstructing the course of justice after he barred Constable Leonard Mugura from arresting a commuter omnibus driver.

He was further remanded in custody to July 24 for trial. The court heard that on July 8 at around 1pm, Mugura who was in the company of fellow constables; Chidawa, Ndlovu and Matingo while on duty in the CBD saw a kombi driver picking up and dropping passengers at an undesignated place.

Mugura, who had a spike, approached the kombi intending to arrest the driver. Mwanaka allegedly charged towards Mugura and clapped him on the face before further manhandling him while grabbing his collar as he tried to pin him down. Mugura’s colleagues rushed to his rescue. The kombi driver escaped during the incident.

More: Herald