MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Daring four armed robbers who pounced on a Mberengwa family at gun point and stole goods valued at US$2 225 have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each.
Theophilus Mtombeni (25), Ashington Baro (26), Reynold Nyoni (38) were convicted at the close of the state case while Takenowledge Mtombeni (28) pleaded guilty during the initial appearance.
The quartet are accused of two counts of robberies.
Delivering the sentence yesterday, Regional Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said Mtombeni, Baro and Nyoni will serve 14 years effective after she suspended two years on condition of good behavior and one year that they pay a restitution of US$388 each to the victims before or on 28 March 2024.
Takenowledge who pleaded guilty and was initially slapped with 18 years imprisonment, will however serve 12 years effective after the presiding magistrate suspended two years on condition of good behavior and one year that he restitute the victims.
Prosecuting, Talent Tadenyika told the court that on the 23rd of December 2023 at Dunning Farm in Mberengwa, the quartet armed with a pellet gun, machetes, iron bar and a bolt cutter robbed Collen Tshavaya of his Kenson subwoofer with three speakers, Tecno spark 5 cellphone, Itel cellphone, cash amounting to US$1 000 and a gun cabinet containing 47 live rounds of ammunition.
The court heard that the accused persons forcibly opened Regina Sibanda’s bedroom, threatened to kill her before they struck her twice on the right leg using a bolt cutter.
Fearing for her life, Sibanda then surrendered US$500.
Tadenyika added that the accused persons then “struck the complainant once on the head using a headboard drawer leaving her unconscious and fled the scene”.
The court heard that the quartet was arrested on December 26 at Mabhuru Business Centre after police received a tip off on their whereabouts.
A Beretta 7.65 pistol, black pellet pistol, a machete, Tecno spark 5 cellphone, gun cabinet, 40 live round and a motor vehicle Volvo S60 used for robberies as well as the valuables worth USD 1175 were recovered.
