A GUTU man who last year stoned his girlfriend to death for allegedly infecting him with HIV will spend the rest of his life in prison after High Court judge Justice Francis Bere found him guilty of the gruesome murder.
Edmore Mujachira, 32, of Madzvimbo Village under Chief Munyuki in Gutu, was handed the heavy sentence after being found guilty of murder with actual intent on Friday.
In passing judgement, Justice Bere said Mujachira acted brutally by stoning a person to death, and had shown no remorse for his actions during the course of the trial.
Justice Bere also said Mujachira continued condemning the deceased, Kumbirai Mukaro, during the trial by accusing her of infecting him with HIV, which he said, was unfair and contradicted his evidence-in-chief.
Mujachira had initially told the court that the deceased was the only woman he had ever known but in his mitigation he said he was a father to two children from different women.
Prosecutor Elson Chavarika told the court that on August 22 last year at Longwork Village, Soti Source in Gutu, Mujachira met Mukaro, who was in the company of her mother, Kesta Manhivi, on their way to Tongogara Business Centre.
Mujachira immediately confronted Mukaro and ordered her to go back home with him to discuss their relationship but she refused.
He then started blocking the road so she could not pass. Mukaro's mother tried to restrain him from attacking her daughter, at which he elbowed her and she fell on the grass.
Mujachira then picked a stone and hit Mukaro in the stomach, accusing her of infecting him with HIV. She cried out begging that Mujachira should stop attacking her.
He continued to stone Mukaro until she fell down at which he picked a big stone with both hands which he used to crush Mukaro's head, leading to her death.
Jackson Muchemi witnessed the murder and reported to members of the public but Mujachira fled the scene.
The matter was reported to the police who later arrested Mujachira.