FOUR brothers have been arraigned before Harare magistrate Josephine Sande on allegations of murdering suspected thieves in two recent separate incidents which happened in Harare’s Sunningdale and Budiriro suburbs.

Kasikai Goodzi, (34) and his brother Pascal (19) were not asked to plead when they appeared at the Harare magistrate’s court this past week. They were remanded in custody to October 10.

They were ordered to apply for bail at the High Court.

Allegations against them arose in July this year when the duo allegedly met the deceased Tendai Vera in Sunningdale where they reside.

Court heard Vera was carrying a sack full of clothes and blankets.

The brothers suspected he had stolen the clothes and they started assaulting him with the help of one Winmore Mhlanga who is still on the run.

The Goodzi brothers denied the charges and went on to blame Mhlanga for the offence saying he is the one who attacked Vera with a mattock before he dumped his body in Boshof road close to their house.

The brothers were arrested this past week after the police received a tip-off from members of the public.

In a separate incident, Rungano Chenjerai and his brother Tirivamwe also appeared before the same magistrate on allegations of killing one Owen Chinoda.

Court heard Rungano was at his place of guard in Budiriro when he saw Chinoda who was allegedly intruding into the premises.

Court further heard he started shouting for help from the public to assist him chase a thief.

His shouts awakened his brother and other residents who chased after Chinoda and caught him.

Prosecutors alleged that the two brothers started assaulting Chinoda with a Chambook and another unknown object while pouring water on him.

It is alleged that Rungano was more violent and was at one point restrained by a neighbour but he continued assaulting the deceased until he became unconscious.

The two brothers allegedly dumped Chinoda’s body in a nearby trench.

His body was found the following morning by a passer-by leading to the duo’s arrest.

Tatenda Murindagomo appeared for the state.