Vermeulen accused of bail breaches

The arson trial of Mark Vermeulen got underway at the Harare Magistrates' Court on Friday afternoon, where the former Zimbabwe Test cricketer was reprimanded for breaching one of his bail conditions.

Vermeulen was reprimanded by Harare provincial magistrate, Mishrod Guvamombe, after admitting and apologising for contravening a bail condition in which he is prohibited from entering or using facilities at the Harare Sports Club. He was spotted at the HSC on the first day of the four-day match between the touring Sri Lanka A and Zimbabwe Select on October 16. He also proceeded to the nets, where he practised with some schoolchildren.

In defending Vermeulen's action, his lawyer, Eric Matinenga, also made an application to have his client's bail restrictions wholly lifted. The application will be heard following consultations with a forensic psychologist, Dr A. Rajkovic, who is now overseeing Vermeulen.

The case was adjourned to November 12.

Vermeulen, now the Old Hararians club captain, is accused of setting fire to the Zimbabwe Cricket boardroom at Harare Sports Club on October 30, 2006. He is also charged with setting another fire the following day, which destroyed property worth millions of dollars at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy at the Highlands Country Club in Harare.