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Faith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
A LALAPANZI gold panner who broke his mother’s arm and stabbed his friend with a spear in the stomach has been sentenced to an effective 12 years in prison.
Jealous Mugariri, 22, of Gwanza West in Lalapanzi, was yesterday convicted of attempted murder by Regional Magistrate, Morgan Nemadire and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
He will, however, serve 12 years in prison after three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Nemadire said Mugariri’s behaviour was unacceptable as he was drunk and failed to either control himself or be controlled.
“What makes your situation worse is that when you were having an argument with the complainant, your mother tried warning you but you ignored her. You were so drunk that you failed to control yourself and in the process you even injured your mother.
“Your intentions were to kill the complainant, hence you’re sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Three years are suspended on condition of good behaviour,” said Nemadire.
In his defence, Mugariri said that he was trying to defend himself from the complainant and his friend who had attacked him at his home.
“They followed me home and started assaulting me so I had to defend myself. It was in self-defence your worship,” he said.
Prosecuting, Andrew Marimo told the court that on February 15 this year at around 8.30PM, an argument arose between Mugariri and Menson Jemwa over beer which ended up in a fight.
They were at Mazhawidza homestead.
The court heard that Jemwa was drinking beer with his friend, Isaac Maragwe.
Marimo said Mugariri approached Jemwa and grabbed his beer and started drinking it without his consent.
“Mugariri drank Jemwa’s beer without invitation. Jemwa told the accused that he didn’t like what he was doing. Mugariri became violent and uncontrollable,” said Marimo.
The court heard that Jemwa and Maragwe then reported the matter to Mugariri’s mother who was a neighbourhood watch committee member. They wanted Mugariri’s mother to arrest her son.
Marimo said: “When the two were going to Mugariri’s mother, Mugariri followed them. The accused’s mother then told Mugariri to stop assaulting people.”
Marimo told the court that when the duo left Mugariri’s homestead, they heard his mother screaming that Mugariri had hit her with a brick and broke her arm.
“After assaulting his mother, Mugariri went after the complainants and stabbed Maragwe with an unknown object in his eye before stabbing Jemwa with a spear in the stomach,” said Marimo.
The court heard that Jemwa was taken to hospital. When he was discharged, he reported the matter to the police leading to Mugariri’s arrest.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter