THERE was drama at the Beitbridge Magistrate's Court on Friday last week when a woman stood up from the gallery and told the court that a State witness was lying to fix the accused who was the latter’s live-in boyfriend.
The unidentified woman, appearing startled, raised her hand in the middle of proceedings and accused the complainant Precious Hungwe of allegedly misleading the court.
She insisted that while she had never heard of the case, Hungwe was lying to the court.
The unidentified woman was holding Hungwe’s baby.
Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba instructed the court orderly to attend to the woman who immediately spoke from the floor before she was taken out of the court.
The woman was also advised that she would be called in as a defence witness for Blessed Munyaradzi Pfichani who is facing charges of unlawful entry and kidnapping.
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The State alleged that Pfichani entered Hungwe's house and took the baby without her permission.
Pfichani, who has been in custody for a month, denies both charges saying Hungwe was his live-in girlfriend while the two had a child together.
“She is my girlfriend and we live together. It is a place I frequent. She was drinking with friends at night when I found the door open and took the child before proceeding to where she was,” he told the court.
“She came to court to withdraw charges and presented her sworn statement to the reception here but was referred to the prosecutors. The prosecutors destroyed her withdrawal affidavit.”
Prosecutor Olivia Chamutiya then called Hungwe who came to the witness stand with her baby before she was asked to give the baby to someone and the woman, who appeared familiar to both Hungwe and Pfichani, took the baby and sat in the gallery.
Hungwe then told the court she was not Pfichani's girlfriend and the father of her child was at the hospital.
She denied ever living with Pfichani much to the surprise of those in the gallery triggering the woman's reaction. After failing to contain what she said were lies from Hungwe, the woman then raised her hand and the drama began.
The trial continues tomorrow when Pfichani will be put to his defence.