Story by Patience Nyagato
FORMER police detective, Jaison Muvevi, who killed four people in Wedza, has been slapped with four life sentences and an additional 40-year custodial term after he was convicted of four counts of murder and attempted murder.
Muvevi, a serial offender from Ruzane Village in Wedza, Mashonaland East Province, will effectively spend the remainder of his life behind bars following his conviction at the High Court in Harare.
The court found him guilty of the murders of Chrispen Kanerusine, Inspector Maxwell Hove and Munashe Majani in 2023, as well as Nyarai Round in 2022.
In total, Muvevi faced eight counts comprising four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder.
For the murder charges, he was sentenced to four life terms, while he received 10 years for each count of attempted murder.
He was found guilty after a fully contested trial at the High Court in Harare. The trial began in March this year.
Despite several delays and attempts to evade justice, including claims of insanity and allegations that goblins influenced his actions, the High Court dismissed his defence and convicted Muvevi on all counts.
High Court Judge Justice Gibson Mandaza considered the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offences, including the calculated nature of the killings, the use of a firearm, and the apparent absence of remorse.
The court also considered the need to protect the public, uphold the sanctity of human life, and deter like-minded offenders from engaging in similar acts of violent criminality.
It was the state’s case that in January 2023, Muvevi went to an Apostolic shrine in Wedza, where his mother was among the congregants.
He opened fire and killed Kanerusine, accusing him of making false prophecies.
Muvevi also shot and killed Inspector Hove, who was leading a police team meant to restore order before fleeing the scene.
He then proceeded to nearby shops, where he called bartender Munashe Majani outside and fatally shot him without provocation.
The High Court also found him guilty of the brutal murder of Nyarai Round in Harare in 2022.
Muvevi’s sentencing comes shortly after Anymore Zvitsva of Guruve, was slapped with an 89-year sentence for attempted murder, rape and robbery.
Zvitsva will face another trial at the High Court for allegedly killing more than 20 people in Guruve.
