St Christopher’s High School has barred two of its former Ordinary Level students from proceeding to Advanced Level at the school for allegedly plotting to commit murder and rape.
The pair, whose identity is being protected and only referred to as “R” and “C”, were overheard planning “to kill a lady or girl and rape her body afterwards”.
As a result, the school took the decision not to enrol them for ‘A’ Level. They then approached the High Court challenging the school’s decision. Reads the court papers:
Around October 21, 2021, a certain conversation between R and C and two other pupils is alleged to have come to light at St Christopher’s School.
These two and two others are alleged to have been heard by other students openly talking about their desire or intention to shoot a lady or girl and rape her body afterwards.
In their court application, the pupils cited the school Headmistress Louise Morrisby, and her deputy Carl Lapham, the school, the trustees and the board of governors as respondents.
They argued that they were unlawfully barred from continuing with schooling.
The former pupils sought to have the decision set aside, arguing they were never informed of any specific charges in the school’s schedule of offences and that there was never any disciplinary hearing.
They also argued that the school head and other respondents were conflicted in the whole disciplinary process.
After they completed their Form 4, the two students did not return to school.
However, they continued to communicate with school authorities through their lawyers but they were rejected.
Later, the school offered conditions to be met by the two if they were to return.
The school asked the students to submit a verbal apology to the school and undergo off-campus counselling with attendant reports to the school, and a final warning letter on file.
They rejected all the conditions and approached the courts instead.
However, their court application has been dismissed with costs by High court Judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire. | NewZimbabwe.com