Zimbabwean Jazz sensation jailed
Duduzile Manhenga has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Zimbabwean Jazz sensation Duduzile Manhenga will spend the next 18 months in jail after she was found guilty of culpable homicide.
According to B-Metro, it reported on Friday Harare that magistrate Blessing Murwisi sentenced Manhenga to 24 months in jail and fined her USD 300 for driving with a learners licence without supervision.
Six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence,Murwisi said Manhega’s blameworthiness was very high and as such the court was called upon to send a clear message to would be offenders.
Her lawyer pleaded for a fine while prosecutor Barbra Ndoro urged the court to impose a custodial sentence.
The Herald Zimbabwe state media yesterday reported that Manhenga had in 2010 been denying the charge, prompting the court to refer the matter for trial.
It said that the court allowed the request and the prosecution made the changes, which led Manhenga to admit to culpable homicide and that of driving without supervision since she had a learner’s driver’s licence.
She told the court that at the time of the accident she was a holder of a learner’s driver’s licence.
As stated in The Herald, Manhenga who was legally represented, pleaded for the court’s lenience stating that she is an artiste and mother of four realising about US$500 per month.
In considering the appropriate sentence, Manhenga urged the court to take into account the fact that she has no previous convictions.
The state’s case was that on March 15 ,2010 around 14:15 hours Manhenga was driving a Toyota Spacio along Sherwood Drive
The court heard that turned right to a house in Malbereign in front of oncoming motorbike.
Milward was seriously injured as a result of the accident and was taken to West End Hospital where he died on admission.
His motor bike is also said to have been seriously damaged.
The state proved that Manhenga turned right in front of oncoming traffic and failed to top or act reasonably when accident seemed imminent.
Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the court on Thursday as friends and relatives while wept.
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