HARARE - Seven cops accused of murdering a Shamva resident after a brutal attack that left 11 others hospitalised have begun answering to murder charges at the High Court.

The trial entered its second day yesterday.

All stationed at Shamva Police Station, the cops are Aspias Shumba, Motion Jakopo, Simon Mafunda, Michael Makwalo, Lee Makope, Benedict Tapfuma and Blessing Saidi.

They deny murdering Chivambo and told the court he was “perhaps attacked by a stray missile” pelted by a rogue mob while attempting to attack police officers who had raided shebeens in the neighbourhood.

Shumba is the officer-in-charge at Shamva Police Station and together with his subordinates are accused of killing Luxmore Chivambo.

Allegations arose after Shumba’s wife, Judith, was robbed of a purse containing $100 and a Nokia 7209 cellphone by an unidentified person on March 17 last year.

She reported the case to her husband, who in turn mobilised his subordinates to investigate the offence.

The cops proceeded to Ashley Mill Compound in the dead of the night where they raided Chivambo’s house, the court heard.

They forcibly opened the door, dragged Chivambo outside and started assaulting him with baton sticks, feet and fists, the court heard.

According to court records, the police officers continued assaulting Chivambo demanding to know the identity of the person who had stolen from the officer-in-charge’s wife. - Tendai Kamhungira