HARARE - A lawyer representing a murder suspect says he is receiving death threats from relatives of the victim.

Norman Mugiya is representing Pritchard Zimondi, who is accused of murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend Monalisa Chinomona.

Mugiya has since written to the Attorney General seeking protection.

“The writer (Mugiya) was threatened with death by the relatives on February 4, 2013 and that was repeated again on February 5, 2013.

“Everytime, the writer will have to leave court in haste because the said witnesses and relatives of the deceased will be behind the writer with a view to possibly attack same,” reads part of the letter.

The murder trial was yesterday postponed after Mugiya brought a letter from a doctor claiming Zimondi was suffering from memory lapse, had a headache and was not fit for trial.

Chinomona’s relatives are bitter over continued delays affecting the case and suspect Mugiya is playing delaying tactics.

They demanded that the doctor appear in court to give evidence on his findings.

Allegations against Zimondi arose in April last year when he had a misunderstanding with Chinomona.

It is alleged that on the fateful day, Zimondi went to Chinomona’s place and entered the house unnoticed.

He allegedly headed for the kitchen and armed himself with a kitchen knife, which he used to stab Chinomona on the left breast.

After the act, Zimondi fled the scene, prosecutors allege.