Kudakwashe Kutamahufa

KWEKWE – A Kwekwe man who made headlines two years ago for stoning a passerby to death, has been acquitted of murder on grounds of insanity.

Rodwell Hove was acquitted by High Court Judge Bongani Ndlovu who was on circuit at the Gweru Magistrates Court.

According to the State on July 26, 2023 around 7am at Kwekwe Commuter Omnibus Rank, the now deceased met Lorraine Mararahanda his neighbour and they started walking towards Ripperz shop.

As they walked past Spar Supermarket pavement, where they met Hove who made a U-turn and ran towards Mararahanda. Hove suddenly hit Mararahanda with a quarter concrete brick on the back of the head. Mararahanda fell on his forehead to the ground and started bleeding from the ears, mouth and nose.

Mararahanda screamed for help and some workers from Spar Supermarket rushed to the scene and started rendering first aid as he had become unconscious.

At the same time, an unknown well-wisher drove his commuter omnibus and took Mararahanda to Kwekwe General Hospital where he was admitted.

The public chased after Hove and managed to apprehend him. The matter was reported to the police, leading to Hove’s arrest.

On the same date around 5pm, Mararahanda succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault. On July 28, his body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem.

Dr S Pesanai concluded that the cause of death was Intracranial haemorrhage, depressed skull fracture and assault.