HARARE – A Harare court on Tuesday ruled that Jaison Muvevi, a retired police detective accused of four murders, is mentally unfit to stand trial.
Muvevi, who killed three people inside 24 hours, including a police officer, was committed to a psychiatric hospital instead.
Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi said he has no option after perusing reports by two doctors concluded who concluded that Muvevi was mentally disturbed when he killed his victims.
“Lawyers for the accused made an application to have him examined in terms of the Mental Health Act. It was not opposed by the State. He was then examined by two doctors who agreed that the accused is having mental challenges,” Mangosi said.
“The court is motivated to commit him to a psychiatric hospital.”
In January, Muvevi’s lawyers applied to the court for a mental examination of the ex-cop who left law enforcement to pursue a career as a miner.
Muvevi was arrested while attempting to flee into Mozambique in January after a shooting spree which left three people dead in Wedza.
Police later linked him to the murder of one Nyarai Round from Chinamhora, Domboshawa, on November 19 last year.
Muvevi sparked a major police hunt on January 13 last year after he entered an apostolic church shrine in Wedza and shot the cleric, Crispen Kanerusine, in the head. Kanerusine had allegedly told Muvevi’s mother than her son was using muti in his mining business which would later haunt the family.
Police attempted to stop his vehicle as he left Wedza, and he opened fire, killing Maxwell Hove, a police officer. He later killed Munashe Munjani, a bartender at Murambinda business centre.
Muvevi also faced two attempted murder charges after shooting and wounding a police officer, and a school caretaker who refused to give him food.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had told the court that Muvevi drove to Kanerusine’s shrine in the company of one Shupikai Muvevi. He was dressed in all black, a colour which is not allowed at the shrine. He was then given a white cloth to cover himself.
The court heard that Muvevi sat among other congregants when Kanerusine was preaching while kneeling in front of the worshipers.
It is alleged that Muvevi went back to his vehicle parked outside and retrieved an FN Browning pistol and hid it under the white gown as he walked back to the shrine.
“He went straight to confront Kanerusine who was kneeling whilst praying and shot him once above his left eye and he fell down,” according to the NPA.
Frightened congregants immediately fled the scene and called police.
Hove, who was in charge of Wedza police, mobilised his reaction team and they found Muvevi parked on the roadside along the Wedza-Murambinda highway.
Hove and team blocked his vehicle intending to confront him, but he started firing at the police officers.
Hove, who was in the front passenger seat, died on the spot. Other police officers who were in the police truck fled or hid under the truck, discarding their rifles in the process.
Constable Tendai Mugova, who is the first complainant in the matter, was shot in the stomach and on his pelvis, sustaining serious injuries.
It is further alleged Muvevi then took a police FN rifle with a magazine of 10 rounds and a CZ pistol which had three rounds.
He made a U-turn and drove towards Murambinda business centre where he parked his car in front of Ruzema Liquor Store. He called Munjani who was in the company of two friends and had a brief chat with him before he suddenly drew his pistol and shot him once in the head.
Munjani died on the spot as Muvevi sped off from the scene.
A day later, on January 14, Muvevi went to Mutare Boys High School where he allegedly attempted to kill the caretaker, who had refused to give him food. He allegedly fired three shots but missed his target.
Muvevi then fled into Mozambique where he was apprehended and returned to Zimbabwe.
At the mental health hospital, Muvevi will receive treatment and when passed fit he will be freed, according to lawyers.
