Hwange resident magistrate Rose Dube dismissed all charges against two men identified as Moses and Fosed who spent 11 years in remand prison with no trial. Moses and Fosed were charged with attempted murder when they were aged 13 and 14 and were locked up. The two were alleged to have locked their grandfather’s bedroom from the outside before setting it on fire. The grandfather managed to make it out although he was unable to salvage most of his possessions.
However, the matter never made it to trial leading to their lawyer arguing that their constitutional rights had been violated. Said their lawyer, Tafadzwa Chirimusaru,
The charge preferred against accused persons is not complicated and could have been disposed of speedily if police had been effective in their duties. The State has been postponing the matter arguing that the police were yet to conclude investigations. Accused have suffered by continued delay and this is in violation of their constitutional rights which stipulate that an arrested person must be brought to court within 48 hours.
More: Newsday
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