Businessman up for attempted murder

© A HARARE businessman, who was allegedly caught on camera firing a shot at a security detail during an altercation at a local bar leading to his arrest last Friday, has appeared in court.
Tawanda Trymore Jarnett, 34, a director at Lixbit Incorporated, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa yesterday.
He was released on $500 bail and ordered to report thrice a week at CID Homicide, not to interfere with witnesses and continue residing at his present address until the matter is finalised.
The matter was remanded to February 12.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on January 4 around 10pm, Jarnett was drinking beer with his friends at a bar along High Glen Road. The court heard that during the binge, Jarnett had an altercation with other revellers. During the scuffle, Jarnett pulled out a Tokarev pistol and fired one shot in the air to scare away his rivals.
Members of the public and security guards tried to disarm him but Jarnett resisted and fired a second shot which hit Edward Mapfurirwa on the upper right arm bicep.
According to court records, Jarnett has a firearm certificate which was issued for his pistol for protection of cash in transit.
However, Jarnett allegedly failed to comply with the conditions on which the firearm certificate was issued and used his pistol at a beer drinking outlet.
The State will use a close circuit television footage that shows Jarnett committing the offence as evidence during trial.
The Tokarev pistol which was loaded with three live rounds and a spent cartridge was recovered from the scene.