RADIO VOP (Zimbabwe) 18 December 08 Villagers Steal Crocodiles As Hunger Bites
Chiredzi: Three hunger stricken villagers who stole crocodiles and skinned them for food are still yet to be convicted after the court failed to sit on Wednesday over unclear circumstances.
Chiredzi court officials said the resident magistrate who was supposed to hear the case, was not feeling well.
The accused, Frankson Chirambadare (27), Beauty Mkungulisi (25) and Christopher Chipadza, aged 34, are employed by Hippo Valley Estates in the Lowveld intially appeared before resident magistrate Enias Magate on November 12 facing charges of theft.
It is the state's case that the trio, in October this year stole crocodiles from farmer Michael Feydherbe of farm 33, Hippo Valley in the dead of the night.
The co-accused later sold the meat to neighbouring farms, leading to a tip off to the police by suspicious members of the public.
In mitigation, the three accused told the court that they had gone for days without eating, hence the nerve to steal crocodiles, which they knew, could attack them.
They are expected in court once a trial date has been set.
Villagers Steal Crocodiles As Hunger Bites