THE STATE v TAFIREI RUNESU

HMA 37-17

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Case Details

Court

Masvingo High Court

Date

14 July 2017

Citation

HMA 37-17

Neutral Citation

[2017] ZWHMA 37

Outcome

unknown

Case Type

Trial

Bench

Presiding

Mafusire J

Full Bench

Mafusire J

Areas of Law

Criminal LawEvidence

Keywords

Self-defenceUnlawful attackReasonable meansExhaustionPursuit

Key Issues

{"issue_text":"Whether the accused acted in self-defence when he struck and killed the deceased.","issue_type":"law","dispositive":"yes","related_facts":"Deceased's armed pursuit; accused's flight; accused's exhaustion; use of log."}
{"issue_text":"Whether the means used by the accused were reasonable in all the circumstances.","issue_type":"law","dispositive":"yes","related_facts":"Use of a log against a knife; failure to retreat further."}
{"issue_text":"Whether the accused could have otherwise escaped or averted the attack.","issue_type":"law","dispositive":"yes","related_facts":"Accused's claim of exhaustion; proximity of the deceased; previous attempts to flee."}

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background

Facts of the Case

Background

On 16 August 2016, the accused struck and killed his brother-in-law with a log after a prolonged chase. The deceased had been pursuing the accused with a knife, having already attempted to stab him multiple times. The accused claimed he acted in self-defence after becoming exhausted and unable to flee further.

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