Bellarmine Mugabe case: Investigating officer denies facilitating compensation for shooting victim

The investigating officer in Bellarmine Mugabe’s case has denied facilitating compensation to the victim of a shooting incident that took place in February at a residence in Hyde Park.

This comes after Mugabe’s lawyers and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, told the Alexandra Magistrate's Court that payment to the victim was made with the knowledge of Colonel CJ Raj after their families approached the complainant.

However, the investigating officer has distanced himself from these claims, denying any role in facilitating such an arrangement.

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On Friday, the case was postponed to next week to allow for further investigation into whether the victim was indeed compensated, and for the accused to disclose the whereabouts of the firearm used by Matonhodze.

Both accused have pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against them.

But Colonel Raj said the two have shown no remorse for their actions.

"Based on the attempted murder, a firearm was used to commit this crime, we are still looking for this firearm. Both the accused were there when the firearm was fired and injured the victim, the accused show no remorse assisting the police in any way to point out where the firearm is."

Meanwhile, lawyers for Mugabe and his co-accused, Matonhodze, have told the Alexandra magistrate’s court that their clients are willing to return to Zimbabwe at their own expense provided they are not sentenced to prison.

Mugabe has admitted to being in South Africa illegally and to pointing a firearm, which his defence maintains was a toy gun.

Matonhodze, meanwhile, has pleaded guilty to more serious offences, including attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice and illegal entry into the country.

Advocate Laurence Hodes has urged the court to impose suspended sentence or a fine and allow the pair to leave the country, arguing that this would bring finality to the matter without the need for improsonment.

"Should this court be inclined to impose a fine albeit a hefty fine tour worship both accused are in a position to pay they have the money set aside and the arrangements could be made, the monies can be paid this weekend by Monday including the purchase tickets to Zimbabwe your worship," said Hodes.