Story by Fungai Jachi
LUKE Zinyengere who made headlines last month after a dramatic escape from custody at the Harare Magistrates Court, has been sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment.
Delivering the sentence this Thursday, the presiding magistrate described the escape as “well-planned and executed in movie style”, highlighting the severity of the offence.
She emphasised that jailbreak is a grave matter, not a game, and pointed to the trauma suffered by both the carjacking victim and court officials as aggravating factors.
The magistrate went on to say that by escaping from lawful custody while facing multiple armed robbery charges, Zinyengere showed that he could not be rehabilitated and, hence should be kept away from society.
Zinyengere escaped from lawful custody at the Harare Magistrates Court with help from family members who supplied him with a pistol while he was being escorted to a prison truck meant to take prisoners brought to court back to Harare Remand Prison.
He successfully escaped, using the firearm to hijack a motor vehicle at gunpoint and fleeing the scene, while his accomplice Tafadzwa Richard Marondera, was apprehended just outside the court fence as he sought to flee towards Belvedere Road, Harare.
Zinyengere’s relatives who allegedly helped him execute his plan have since been arrested and are awaiting trial.
They are facing charges of assisting in the suspect’s escape from the court premises and harbouring him thereafter.
His accomplice, Tafadzwa Marondera was convicted earlier this month and is serving a 10-year jail term.
