A lawyer representing a 48-year-old woman who allegedly struck her 59-year-old boyfriend on the head with an axe last month, killing him on the spot, yesterday denied the authenticity of a warned and cautioned statement made by Dzivarasekwa police officers in which his client signed, pleading guilty to the charges, saying she was forced to do so.
Steven Chikotora said his client, Tabeth Zhanda, was forced to sign the statement admitting to the charges. Zhanda is facing charges of murder. Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo deferred the matter to February 26.

It is the State’s case that Zhanda, who was cohabiting with Emmanuel Machingauta in Tynwald, Harare, could not stomach the fact that Machingauta wanted to return to his family.
Allegations are that on November 8, Zhanda and Machingauta had a misunderstanding over the payment of rentals. After the altercation, Machingauta, the court heard, is said to have told Zhanda that he was going back to his family.
Zhanda is said to have pleaded with Machingauta not to leave her, but he insisted on going back to his family.
After the heated argument, the two went out together and returned at around 10pm, the court heard. It is further alleged that when they came back home they started quarrelling again.
Zhanda then locked the door from inside in a bid to bar Machingauta from going out, it is alleged. A fistfight ensued and Zhanda picked up an axe which she used to strike Machingauta twice on the forehead, seriously injuring him.
Upon noticing that she had killed him, Zhanda packed her clothes and fled the scene.-State