Mathew Masinge
High Court judge Esther Muremba has described a Chinese national who murdered, attempted to kill and assaulted three miners at a mine in Zhombe as a cold-blooded killer.
In her detailed judgment, Justice Muremba said Cai Yulong had no right to act in the manner in which he did that disregarded the sanctity of human life.
Yulong was last year jailed 30 years after he fatally shot Goni Goni, attempted to kill John Muchawaya and assaulted Lovemore Mapfanya for allegedly encroaching and panning for gold in his mine.
He owns Stone Steel Mine while the late Goni and his crew were employed by Blackhand 10 Mine which operates in the same area.
Yulong was convicted on all three counts after he claimed his actions were in self defense and in that of his property.
However, Justice Muremba ruled that Yulong’s defence was weak.
“Even if it were accepted that Goni and his colleagues were illegally panning for gold in Yulong’s mine, he had no right to shoot them while they were running away. The sanctity of human life must be upheld and Yulong’s actions demonstrate a cold-blooded killing,” ruled Justice Muremba.
The court also found that Yulong inflicted serious injuries on Muchawaya.
“The complainant was shot while running away, and the victim impact statement reveals the profound pain and trauma he has endured.
“He lost a workmate during the shooting and remains deeply affected by the incident. He is still nursing his injuries and is unable to provide for his family as the breadwinner.
“The complainant has no hope of returning to the mining industry due to his inability to perform heavy duties,” the judge noted.
The court also noted that Yulong exhibited the highest degree of cruelty.
“Yulong exhibited a high degree of cruelty by holding Muchawaya with one hand and shooting him in the back of his legs, completely disabling him from walking.
Yulong was convicted and sentenced to 30 years for the murder charge, he was jailed 10 years for count two (attempted murder) of which five years were suspended on condition of a similar offence in the next five years.
The remaining five years will run concurrently with the sentence for murder.
He was also fined US$100 for assault.High Court judge Esther Muremba has described a Chinese national who murdered, attempted to kill and assaulted three miners at a mine in Zhombe as a cold-blooded killer.
