HARARE – Suspected serial killer and rapist Daniel Chauke, 62, was charged with the murders of three women and sex attacks on six women on Thursday.
Chauke was accused of the crimes committed between 2022 and 2024 as he appeared before Chipinge magistrate Alfred Chinembiri.
Chinembiri remanded Chauke in custody and advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.
Edmore Mahlanganise, prosecuting, alleged that on October 21, 2023, Ruth Sithole was working in her field at Chikwanda Village in Chipinge when she was approached by Chauke who asked her if he could do manual work in her fields.
“She turned his request down. The accused person grabbed her by the neck and dragged her for about 40 meters. He forced her down and raped her once before strangling her to death,” he said.
It is also alleged that Chauke took a machete and struck Sithole’s dog before taking her lunch box and walking away.
He was linked to the killing by a spoon which was in Sithole’s lunch box.
On another count it is alleged that on April 24, 2024, Honeni Manaka Masimandoyo was walking in Derera Village in Chimanimani when she met Chauke.
He proposed love to her but she turned him down stating that she was married.
This did not go down well with Chauke who allegedly grabbed her arm and pulled her to the ground.
“He dragged her to a nearby bush where he strangled her until she was weak and raped her,” the National Prosecuting Authority charges.
After raping and killing her, he took a knife and cut out her privates. He took her panties and wrapping cloth before fleeing the scene.
Chauke was found in possession of the victim’s panties when he was arrested.
On May 26 last month, Silia Maponese was on her way to Scort Village in Chipinge when she met Chauke near Budzi river in the Bangazani area.
“The accused person approached and proposed love to her and he was rejected. He grabbed her and dragged her into the nearby bush where he raped and killed her,” says the prosecution.
Chauke allegedly took her mobile phone and walked away. He was found in possession of the phone.
Chauke was arrested on May 27 on suspicion of stock theft. When police searched his bag, they found various pieces of ladies clothes, a mobile phone and a machete.
Some of the recovered items matched a description of goods stolen from Maponese when she was murdered. Police said he admitted raping and murdering her.
Chauke was remanded to June 12, 2024, awaiting trial and indictment.
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