Judgment Reserved in Mai Jeremaya Rape Case as Accused Seek Discharge

Harare, Zimbabwe – A Harare magistrate has reserved judgment in the alleged rape case involving socialite Ashley Masendeke, widely known online as Mai Jeremaya. 

Thabo Blessing Dube and Martin Charlie stand accused in the matter.

The defence team, comprising lawyers Shepherd Makonde and George Manokore, has applied for the charges against their clients to be dismissed at the close of the State's case. They argue that the prosecution failed to present a credible and consistent case to warrant the trial's continuation.

Key Witness Testimony Under Scrutiny

Central to the defence's application is the testimony from the State's final witness, identified as a close friend of Mai Jeremaya and the person she reportedly first confided in after the alleged incident. The witness's account in court included a claim that Mai Jeremaya initially stated she had consented to sexual intercourse with only one of the accused men because he had spoken to her kindly. This version presented by the friend appeared to conflict with Mai Jeremaya's formal accusation of being raped by both men.

Judgment Reserved in Mai Jeremaya Rape Case as Accused Seek Discharge

The witness also disputed Mai Jeremaya's previous claim in court that the friend had attempted to perform an exorcism on her after the alleged rape, with the friend stating Mai Jeremaya had lied about this. Furthermore, the friend admitted to informing Mai Jeremaya's husband about the alleged incident, despite Mai Jeremaya reportedly having asked her to keep it secret, conceding that the husband would likely not have known otherwise.

Under cross-examination by the defence, the witness acknowledged that her own recollection of events had shifted over time and did not always align with her initial statements or Mai Jeremaya's court testimony.

She conceded that it was difficult to definitively state which version of events was correct.

Defence Argues for Discharge

Pointing to these inconsistencies and contradictions in the State's evidence, the defence lawyers argued that the prosecution had not established a sufficient case to require their clients to be put on their defence. They called for the charges to be dropped and the accused men discharged.

The magistrate has reserved judgment on this application for discharge. A ruling on whether Thabo Blessing Dube and Martin Charlie will be discharged or if they must take the stand to present their defence is expected on June 27.

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