Court Reporter
A robbery suspect told the regional court on Monday that detectives shot him in cold blood and stole his US$24 000, his mobile phone and a wristwatch while transporting him from Gwanda to Beitbridge.
Courage Siziba who faces more than 15 counts of armed robbery said his leg is shattered and he was in need of specialist care.
He requested Regional Magistrate Charity Maphosa to order for his treatment.
Siziba was lifted into court by fellow inmates and a prison warden because he cannot walk.
His right leg was supported by cardboard used prior to one getting a plaster.
He claimed he was hit by a shovel and police were extremely brutal to him in Gweru during his initial arrest.
Beitbridge detectives initially nice to him when they collected him after is arrest became nasty after Gwanda on their way to Beitbridge.
“I was asked out of a police van where I slept in the back and we were now in a dirt road when they asked me to get down in my leg irons. A detective then got behind me and shot me on my calf. I bled profusely and my leg became useless,” he said through interpreter Osborne Moyo.
“They then bundled me into the car and took me to Beitbridge hospital from where they would take me to their office. I am weak and have not been treated properly and am asking the court to investigate and get me proper treatment,” he said.
Maphosa advised him of his right to legal representation.
“I dont need one, I will plead guilty,” he said face down and pain written all over it.
He faces a series of armed robbery cases, some as a lone gunman and others in the company of another suspect.
He is accused of being the armed robber who terrorised travellers at the bus stop next to the last service station on the Bulawayo road in Beitbridge.
After his numerous allegations were read, Maphosa said his attitude would not be requested for by the court since he was in pain.
She said the court would not continue seeing his current situation to which the State agreed.
She immediately ordered that Siziba be taken to Beitbridge hospital while his allegations of police brutality are investigated.
Among his alleged cases are the robbery at the service station at Peters Motel, a series of robberies in the New Medium Density and several others.
Most surprising however was the absence of a count of vehicle theft.
There was also no charge of an illegal possesion of a firearm he is alleged to have used in his brief terror reign.
Willbrought Muleya prosecuted.