State wants direct imprisonment for Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused

Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused,Tobias Matonhodze, are set to be sentenced on Wednesday in the Alexandra Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to varying charges.

The State argued for lengthy direct imprisonment for the accused, saying that despite pleading guilty to some charges, including attempted murder and firearm violations, they have not pointed out the weapon used in the attempted murder.

The pair is accused in relation to two incidents.

One of which involved shooting a man at their Hyde Park residence.

The court has subsequently been told that the victim was paid in an attempt to make the charges go away.

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After weeks of delays and without a plea agreement with the State, the duo brought a Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act application, which allows them to enter a guilty plea.

In mitigation of the sentence, the defence argued that a suspended sentence or a hefty fine would be a sufficient sentence for the two who are in South Africa illegally.

He said that this would serve as a deterrent that will hang over the 29 and 32-year-old Zimbawean nationals.

Mugabe pleaded guilty to two charges, pointing of what is believed to be the firearm in the incident before the shooting and being in the country illegally.

While Matonhodze pleaded guilty to attempted murder, being in the country illegally, illegal possession of a firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

The State said that only direct imprisonment is appropriate for the two, as they have shown no remorse nor cooperated with the investigation.