Gweru court acquits police officer of assault charges

A Gweru cop walked free after a magistrate ruled his ex-girlfriend cooked up assault charges because he dumped her and wouldn't put a ring on it.

The acquittal and the court's reasoning

• Arnoby Mapera, 44, faced assault allegations brought by Benhilda Furusa at Gweru Magistrate's Court.
• Magistrate Blessing Makaripe found the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The court determined Furusa fabricated the charges out of revenge and frustration.
• Mapera's lawyer, Esau Mandipa of Mandipa, Makwara and Chikukwa, represented him successfully.

What triggered Furusa's alleged retaliation campaign

• Mapera ended their relationship and started dating someone else last year.
• Furusa showed up for a sleepover, then refused to leave while claiming wife status.
• Mapera moved out, leaving her behind at his ZRP Mkoba Police Camp residence.
• She began stalking him at Gweru Central Police Station, demanding marriage publicly.

The escalating harassment tactics Furusa allegedly deployed

• Furusa traveled to Mapera's rural home at Lowlands Farm in Marondera uninvited.
• His relatives at Plot 21 rejected her when she introduced herself as his wife.
• She threatened to get him kicked out of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
• Furusa started harassing Mapera's new girlfriend while still pushing for marriage herself.

How the assault allegations unfolded

• Mapera secured a peace order against Furusa before she filed charges.
• Prosecutor Melodious Kavenga claimed the incident happened in October after a commuter omnibus trip.
• The State alleged Mapera slapped Furusa once, then continued assaulting her at home.
• Medical examination showed no visible injuries, and the court found the case inconsistent.