Witnesses heard at Zófimo Muiuane’s trial

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Witnesses heard at Zófimo Muiuane’s trial

3:03 CAT | 20 Dec 2017

O País

On the second day of the trial of Zófimo Muiuane, accused of shooting his wife Valentina Guebuza to death, both the woman’ personal assistant and their daughter’s nanny said they did not hear any shots fired inside the room but only the victim’s desperate screaming.

Zófimo Muiuane arrived at the court in Maputo under a strong police guard for the second day of the trial at around 10 o’clock. The day was reserved for witness statements.

Mussumbuluko Guebuza, 38, the brother of the victim, who filed a complaint on 15 December 2016, the day after the incident, was the first to appear.

He revealed that his sister, Valentina Guebuza, sent a message saying she needed security at around 8:10 p.m.. About 15 minutes later, Mussumbuluko contacted his father, Armando Guebuza, who sent security guards to the couple’s residence.

Mussumbuluko Guebuza said that he had a good relationship with his brother-in-law, but discovered over time that he was feigning. “I could tell he was two-faced. At home he was violent and mean. At the house of his in-laws, he was an exemplary son-in-law and friend,” Mussumbuluko said.

Next, Raquel João, 31, who worked for eight months as personal assistant to Valentina Guebuza, took the stand. On the night of the incident, she said, she was in the house, but heard no strange noise other than a scream, as did the child’s nanny, who was also inside the house.

“… I heard a different scream. I went upstairs and saw the boss lying on the floor. It was the last scream. I saw the gun on the floor. I picked up and put it behind my waist. … I asked Mr. Zófimo: ‘What’s wrong’ and he replied: ‘I have done it … I have done it.’ … Then he snatched the gun from me and told us to leave the room.”

Assistant Regina Mucavele said: “When I arrived in the room, after hearing the scream, Mr. Zófimo demanded the weapon. Then I saw a gun loader on the floor. Mr. Zófimo told us to go downstairs … When I asked him why he had done it, he said: “She offended me before my godparents.”

The nanny’s statements contradict those of the ADC, who affirmed that at no time did Zófimo Muiuane force her to return the weapon. She pulled the device from her waist and returned it. Regina reveals that after her colleague returned the gun, she did not say anything else.

The ADC however says the defendant held her by the waist demanding that she return the weapon. The trial continues tomorrow, with more witness statements.

Source: O País