THIRTY-FIVE Warwick Farm villagers were denied bail on Monday when they appeared before Harare magistrate Apollonia Marutya facing a charge of inciting public violence over a land dispute.
The accused who are being represented by John Ndomene were remanded in custody to today for bail application.
Ndomene said investigating officer Yvonne Karinda was being influenced by the complainants who obviously had interests in the matter.
The defence further argued that the alleged High Court order seeking their eviction was not brought before the court.
The court heard that the accused persons were not at the crime scene, some of them were selling fish while others were coming from church.
However, the investigating officer said the accused persons were facing a serious offence that attracted imprisonment if convicted.
She told the court that the accused persons will further commit public violence if released on bail.
Karinda testified that all accused persons were once served with eviction notices.
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Karinda added that some of the accused persons were facing another case of malicious damage to property at the Mbare Magistrates Court.
The prosecutor said the accused persons also destroyed construction materials and a fence belonging to a land developer.
State prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu said the accused and their accomplices, who are still at large, connived and gathered at Warwick Shire Farm in Zvimba where they protested against the subdivision of the farm for residential stands and the development of the land.
The court heard that the mob engaged in acts of public violence, vandalising properties and setting several houses on fire within the farm.
It is alleged that the accused persons went to Southlands Land Developers’ site offices where they destroyed a security fence to gain entry and burnt two wooden cabins used as storeroom and office resulting in the destruction of several building materials and diesel fuel.
Thereafter, the accused went to Loomlight Land Developers’ site offices and destroyed a three-roomed house by removing its roof.
They also destroyed a 5 000-litre water tank, borehole and construction equipment.
According to court documents the accused also set several fowl runs on fire and fled from the scene.
