HARARE - A Chegutu couple forced a man to drink a poisonous herbicide before striking him to death using a claw bar, a High Court judge has heard.

The suspects, Lovemore Katayamaoko and Elsie Chibanda are now facing murder charges.

The court heard the two, who are married, were employed by Edward Musafare Zvoma at Moulton Estate, Chegutu.

Zvoma is a young brother to the deceased, whose name was not mentioned in state papers.

It is alleged that Katayamaoko approached the now deceased as they were seated in the kitchen at the estate during the night of September 7, 2011.

Katayamaoko allegedly accused the now deceased of spreading malicious rumours about him.

Katayamaoko then tied the now deceased’s hands from the back, took him to the bedroom and forced him to drink the pesticide, the court heard.

“The first accused (Katayamaoko) proceeded to strike the deceased several times with a claw bar on the stomach, legs and ribs,” reads part of the state outline.

It is alleged the now deceased died as a result of injuries he sustained from the attack.

The court heard that the couple then took the body to a bedroom at the estate and hid it under the bed.

They then stole his maize and clothes before fleeing, the court heard.

According to the prosecution, police discovered the body two days later after his sister Sarah reported him missing.

Katayamaoko and Chibanda were arrested in December last year.

High Court judge Felistas Chatukuta yesterday postponed the matter indefinitely, waiting for the indictment of Chibanda. - Tendai Kamhungira