Meanwhile, Hodes continues to push for a resolution via a "hefty fine," arguing that the accused are prepared to settle immediately to secure their return to Zimbabwe. With sentencing now scheduled for April 24, 2026, the court faces the difficult task of weighing the defence’s plea for mercy against the State’s frustration regarding the missing evidence and the seriousness of the underlying charges.

JOHANNESBURG — The high-profile attempted murder trial of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his co-accused, Tobias Matonhodze, has descended into legal friction following explosive revelations at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court this past Friday. The proceedings, already under heavy public scrutiny, hit a deadlock after a heated dispute emerged regarding an alleged out-of-court settlement and the whereabouts of the firearm reportedly used in the February shooting of security gua