Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A SUSPECTED poacher who allegedly shot and killed a game ranger at Nottingham Estate in Beitbridge District after he was cornered while checking on his snares has appeared in court.

Bino Ndou (42) of Ndambe village in the border town allegedly shot Edmore Ndou (28) once on the right thigh resulting in him bleeding to death.

Ndou had been cornered by three rangers while allegedly checking on his snares on the estate.

He appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson James Mabhikwa facing a murder charge in connection with Edmore’s death.

Prosecuting, Ms Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said on April 22 last year at around 10AM, Edmore and his two fellow game scouts, Jeffrey Ncube and Petros Moyo, were on an anti-poaching patrol at Nottingham Estate when they came across snares.

They then lay in ambush the following day during which Ndou arrived at around 10AM to check on his snares.

The rangers ordered him to surrender, but Ndou, who was armed with a shotgun branded Remington 870 Express Magnum, ran away.

The three game scouts advanced towards the accused person but he outpaced them and hid behind some shrubs.

“Upon seeing the game scouts, Ndou cocked his rifle and pointed it at the trio. The three game scouts, however, continued charging towards him and he ran towards Mutshilashokwe River and hid in the shrubs prompting the three men to conduct a search,” said Ms Ndlovu.

Edmore spotted the accused person who immediately opened fire and hit him on the right thigh. The deceased fell on the ground and bled profusely and Ndou fled from the scene.

Moyo, who was nearby, heard the gunshot and rushed to the scene. The court heard upon seeing Moyo, Ndou threatened to shoot him before pulling out a knife. The two men wrestled and Moyo managed to escape.

A report was made at Nottingham police base leading to Ndou’s arrest and the subsequent recovery of the firearm.

Edmore was ferried to Nottingham Clinic where he died on arrival.

According to a post mortem report, the cause of death was gunshot wound, haemorrhage shock and bronchoaspiration.

Ndou, in his defence through his lawyer Mr Bruce Masamvu of Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners, said the firearm accidentally discharged during a scuffle with Edmore who had grabbed him from behind.

“The gun accidentally discharged once but was never aimed at anyone and I did not even notice that the deceased had been hit by the bullet. It is only upon my arrest that I was told that I had shot the deceased,” he said.

Ndou said when he was spotted by the game rangers, he was in the process of removing snares which were left by poachers.

He said he decided to flee when he mistook the game rangers for poachers.

@mashnets