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Thobekile Khumalo, Sunday News Reporter
THREE men from Queenspark in Bulawayo have been arrested after they assaulted a man from a nearby plot accusing him of having stolen their sheep after they claimed they saw a print of his shoes in their plot.
The trio, Charles Mwenga (38), Phawulani Ngwenya (45) and Trust Brown Mleya (27) last week appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Ulukile Ndlovu facing two counts of assault and trespassing after they assaulted Mr Dedani Mpofu (24) who works at a nearby plot.
They pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody to 31 September for sentencing. Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on 9 September at around 5pm, the trio ganged up against Mr Mpofu who looks after property at a neighbouring plot at 21 Airport road and accused him of stealing their sheep.
Mr Mpofu, however, told the court that when he woke up to lock the dogs in the kennel the previous day he found out that only three dogs were there and knowing how dangerous they were, he called his friend and went looking for the dogs at the neighbouring plots. That might be when his shoe prints were left, he said.
The court also heard that later that day, Mwenga and his accomplices approached Mr Mpofu and assaulted him after accusing him of stealing their sheep.
A neighbour heard Mr Mpofu wailing and called the owner of the plot in South Africa and told her that there were men in her plot assaulting her worker. The court heard that the friend he had gone with earlier that morning to look for the dogs also heard the noise and called a police officer from the neighbourhood who found the three men assaulting Mr Mpofu. The court heard that Mr Mpofu sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for medical attention.
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