A soldier, who was on the run after conniving with his workmate and a Harare woman Cleopatra Shingirai Mutisi to fatally assault the woman's nephew, has been arrested. Mutisi (44) accused the 13-year-old boy of stealing US$70 and ordered the two soldiers, Tafara Frank Gusha (21) and Tafadzwa Shayanewako (24) who were guarding her home to assault him.

Mutisi and Gusha have since appeared in court charged with murder and are out on US$1000 bail.

Shayanewako, who has been on the run, appeared before Ms Anita Tshuma facing the same charge.

He was granted US$1 000 bail coupled with some conditions.

He is to report thrice a week at CID Homicide, must not interfere with witnesses and to reside at his given address.

Gusha and Shayanewako were assigned to guard Mutisi's residence situated at 85 Dickson Drive Hogarth Hills in Harare's Borrowdale suburb.

It is alleged the money stolen by the deceased, was meant for workers who were repairing a borehole at the house. According to the State, the two soldiers took the boy to their cottage where they assaulted him overnight using hosepipes under the instructions of Mutisi.

Mutisi joined the pair in the assault the following morning before leaving for her rural home in Maramba, it is alleged.

The soldiers continued assaulting the boy until he died.

Upon realising the juvenile had died, the two soldiers contacted Mutisi resulting in the trio hatching a plan to file a false police report that the minor had been assaulted by unknown assailants at school, the court heard.