Zimbabwe Cricket Player Cleared Of Arson On Psychiatric Defense

Former Zimbabwe cricket batsman Mark Vermeulen has been cleared on arson charges related to an October 2006 blaze in the board room of Zimbabwe Cricket and at the CFX Cricket Academy on grounds he was mental incompetent at the time.

A Harare magistrate found he had severe psychiatric problems at the time, a ruling that had the support of doctors giving expert testimony for the prosecutors.

Lawyer Advocate Eric Matinenga voiced satisfaction with the ruling, telling reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye of VOA's Studio Seven for Zimbabwe that his client is now free to continue playing his sport without the case hanging over his head.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...