Rape convict and cleric, Robert Martin Gumbura together with his co accused failed to proceed to their defense case once again following a request by the other two accused persons to see a physician as it was reported last that the accused persons fell sick after they ate beef.
The prison break accused persons were reported sick last week in court with allegations that they consumed beef served to them in prison on the previous Sunday, the gangs lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku told Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo.
“One of the issues I have been asked to bring forward by my clients is that they are not feeling well and have not been attended to by a doctor. The second and fourth accused persons did not visit the doctor last time and they had appointments” said Madhuku while seeking for a postponement.
Madhuku also said that the second accused person’s matter is to be attended to by a physician and that will need a lot of time.
Magistrate Mapfumo rolled over the matter to tomorrow for trial commencement.
The gang believes that Mapfumo infringed their rights when he dismissed their application for a one week postponement to give them time to apply for a review of their ruling when he dismissed their application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Magistrate Mapfumo had dismissed the application on the basis that they had no order from the High Court to temporarily stall proceedings.
Madhuku indicated that the accused persons are suffering from a severe stomachache after they consumed rotten beef at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Sunday.
Gumbura is charged together with seven other inmates who are accused of inciting a food riot in a bid to escape from prison in 2015.
