A 36-year-old bishop from the ZCC Damsko church has been convicted for fatally assaulting a congregant and severely injuring her husband under the pretense of performing a healing ritual.
The bishop, Crispen Gomori of Limpopo View in Beitbridge, claimed the couple was suffering from mental illness and subjected them to brutal beatings.
The woman succumbed to her injuries, while her husband sustained serious wounds. Gomori was convicted on Tuesday after appearing before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Mr. Takudzwa Gwazemba.
During the trial, Gomori admitted to administering seven strokes to the male victim, insisting that the flogging was intended to heal him. He argued that the couple had willingly participated in the ritual, as they were members of his church.
However, State prosecutor Mr. Tawanda Chigavazira countered that regardless of any consent, the severity of the assault went far beyond religious practice. Despite this, the court cautioned and discharged Gomori for the assault charge, ruling that he had acted under a misconception of religious doctrine.
The incident occurred on March 6, 2023, when the couple arrived at the church shrine around midday. Upon their arrival, Gomori ordered other congregants to restrain them with chains, insisting that they were mentally ill.
The victims remained tied to a tree overnight. The following evening, at around 8 p.m., Gomori began flogging them with a leather whip. The brutal assault continued for hours until the woman succumbed to her injuries at around 4 a.m.
Realizing she had died, Gomori fled the scene. A police report was later filed, leading to his arrest.
The male victim was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for treatment, while the woman’s body was transported to the same hospital for a post-mortem examination.
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