A police officer from Chitungwiza town in Harare Sergeant Tichaona Chirine (38) shot his wife Sergeant Julia Chirinhe with a service pistol.
The Zimbabwe police Commissioner General Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying they have arrested the culprit.
“A sad incident which occured in Chitungwidza today when sergeant Tichaona Chirine shot his wife”, said Nyathi.
It is alleged that Sergeant Tichaona was at work and took his service pistol home where he shot his wife.
“He found his wife who was at work for night shift at home, they went to the bedroom that’s when this gun was fired”, he added.
Nyathi assured the public that the law will take its course .
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: MURDER AS DEFINED IN SECTION 47 OF THE CRIMINAL
LAW (CODIFICATION AND REFORM) ACT CHAPTER 9:26 AT HOUSE NUMBER 164A UNIT F SEKE CHITUNGWIZA.
This memorandum serves to place on record circumstances and initial investigations carried out on the above subject matter.
Informant: Clementineshe Sibanda Age: 27 years.
NR: 84-042988 Y 56
Res: 61A Unit F Seke Chitungwiza.
Bus: ZRP Chitungwiza Traffic.
Deceased: Juliana Chirinhe Age: 37 years.
NR:
Force Number: 991084P
Rank: Sergeant
Res:164A Unit F,Seke
Bus:Z.R.P. Chitungwiza Traffic
Accused: Tichaona Chirinhe Age: 38 years.
NR: 59-059451 C 59
Force Number:055253G
Rank:Sergeant
Res:164a Unit F Seke
Bus:ZRP Harare Central Crime Prevention Unit.
CIRCUMSTANCES
On 27 December 2020 and at around 1100 hours, the informant was on her way home when she came across the deceased’s neighbour and friend Eunice Chiufama who informed her that the now deceased had been shot by the accused person.
The informant rushed to the scene and found the deceased lying on floor writhing in agony and vomiting. She then contacted her superior Inspector Christopher Tsuro aged 40 years NR 80-050306 B 32 of ZRP Chitungwiza Traffic. The informant,Inspector Tsuro and two other members from ZRP Chitungwiza Traffic rushed the now deceased to Chitungwiza 24 hour medical Centre,Citimed medical Centre and Chitungwiza hospital but they could not get assistance in all these institutions and they left for Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Upon arrival at Parirenyatwa Hospital the now deceased was taken to resuscitation room where she passed on at around 1420 hours upon being attended.
The informant reported the matter at ZRP Chitungwiza and the deceased’s body is currently at Parirenyatwa Hospital Mortuary awaiting Post Mortem.
Scene was attended by CID Homicide Harare and ZRP Chitungwiza, who made the following observations.
The accused person and the now deceased are husband and wife and both are members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, residing at the mentioned address. The two were married since year 2006 and were blessed with two children one aged 14 years and the other aged 7 years.
Scene is a four roomed house in the high density suburb of Chitungwiza.
There was a blood stained sheet on the bed in the now deceased’s bedroom.
Eunice Chiufama aged 42 years NR 59-040819 C 59 of house number 164B Unit F, Seke Chitungwiza who is the deceased’s neighbour and friend was interviewed and she stated that she was at her residence when she was approached by the accused person who was crying alleging that he had accidentally shot his wife and he wanted to be taken to the police station. She further stated that she was not aware of any history of misunderstandings between the two.
The deceased’s daughter Anesu Chirinhe aged 14 years was also interviewed and she stated that both the deceased and the accused person were on night duty. She further stated that the now deceased was the first to arrive home at around 0900 hours and she later went and picked the accused at around 1030 hours. She indicated that she was in the sitting room when she heard gunshot sound coming from two’s bedroom and she rushed in the room and found the accused crying alleging that he accidentally shot the now deceased as he was making some safety precautions to put his firearm on safe place.
Parirenyatwa Hospital was visited and it was observed that the now deceased was shot on the right part of the abdomen and the bullet exited through the left part of the abdomen.
She was putting on a green t-shirt, black skirt and a pair of purple skin tight pants.
Inspector Tsuro was interviewed and he indicated that he arrested and disarmed the accused of his service firearm, a PI pistol with an empty magazine.
The accused was interviewed and he alleged that he accidentally shot the now deceased whilst trying to make safety precautions on his service pistol.
He was issued with the firearm on 25 December 2020 for Night duties with a magazine of eight rounds. An entry to that effect was noted in his police notebook.
The accused was searched and 1x 9mm spent cartridge and 7 x 9mm live rounds were recovered from his left trousers back pocket.
The accused is currently detained at ZRP Chitungwiza on DB 3602/20.
Outstanding
To have accused examined by forensic experts.
To take the recovered firearm and the spent cartridge to CID forensic ballistics.
To take the accused person to court.
Investigations are in progress under ZRP Chitungwiza CR 591/12/20.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT
Hom: 929-20
27 December 2020.
