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when an accused person ran amok, jumped out of the dock and assaulted the two court officials soon after being denied bail.
The dramatic incident occurred at the Gweru Old Prison Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
A witness said the accused, Living Madubeko (30), who was facing shoplifting charges together with his accomplice Geshom Muvingi (29), had appeared before magistrate Mrs Tancy Dube-Chipumha.
The witness said Madubeko got angry when the magistrate remanded him in custody soon after the conclusion of his trial.
According to the witness, Madubeko suddenly jumped out of his dock and grabbed a chair and started assaulting Mrs Dube-Chipumha and the prosecutor, Miss Chipo Matshe.
Madubeko had earlier pleaded with the magistrate during trial to be remanded out of custody for sentencing but the magistrate refused on the grounds that she wanted to assess Madubeko’s previous convictions. That is when all hell broke loose as he ran amok after the magistrate’s pronouncements were translated to him into Shona.
“During the trial, Mrs Dube-Chipumha had found Madubeko guilty of shoplifting and remanded the accused in custody for sentencing. Madubeko however, pleaded with the magistrate to be remanded out of custody but she denied him freedom saying he had previous convictions and that she wanted to assess his other previous convictions,” said the witness.
The witness said soon after an interpreter told Madubeko in Shona that he was remanded in custody, he jumped out of the dock and grabbed a chair before he started assaulting Miss Matshe.
“He struck Miss Matshe with a chair twice on the back and in the process the chair broke into pieces.
He then reached for another chair and assaulted Mrs Dube-Chipumha as she ran out of the courtroom with other court officials.
“It was during the stampede that the magistrate sustained a fractured leg. The situation was then calmed down when the police, with the help of prison officers, arrested Madubeko but not before he had inflicted injuries on the two court officials,” said the witness.
Mrs Dube-Chipumha and Miss Matshe were later taken to Claybank private hospital.
Miss Matshe was treated and discharged while the magistrate who sustained a fractured leg was transferred to Bulawayo.
Mrs Dube-Chipumha confirmed the attack and said:
“I moved to the door so that I could lock myself inside but unfortunately people came rushing and in the process I was pushed and fractured my right ankle as a result of the melee.
“I am actually waiting for an ambulance to take me to Bulawayo where I am supposed to undergo an operation at a private health centre.”
Miss Matshe also confirmed the incident.
“Yes, I was assaulted. I am off sick after an accused person assaulted me with a chair. However, you can get the full details from my bosses,” she said.
Midlands provincial magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa confirmed the incident.
She was, however, reluctant to give more details on the matter and referred this reporter to the Chief Magistrate, Mr Mishrod Guvamombe for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Guvamombe were fruitless yesterday.
Online Reporter