Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
AN artisanal gold miner from Shurugwi in the Midlands Province, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for stabbing a fellow imbiber to death following a misunderstanding over a pint of beer.
Nigel Ndomene (33) from Mataruse village under Chief Ndanga, was convicted of murder by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Bongani Ndlovu sitting on a circuit in Gweru, in connection with the death of Philip Sithole (24).
In passing sentence, the judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence, saying there is need for a strong deterrent against similar acts of violence.
“While the deceased may have provoked the dispute, the accused’s response was unjustified,” he said.
Justice Ndlovu highlighted the importance of respecting the sanctity of human life.
The prosecutor, Mr Michael Mhene, said on February 29 at around 6:10PM at Others Follow Bar in Msasa Business Centre, Shurugwi, Ndomene and Sithole had a misunderstanding, after the deceased snatched the accused’s bottle of beer.
The two artisanal miners began pushing each other.
They went outside the bar and the dispute degenerated into a fight during which Ndomene pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the deceased twice, once on the left side of the chest and once in the back.
Sithole managed to flee for a distance of about 15 metres before he collapsed.
He bled profusely and was rushed to Shurugwi District Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon admission.
Ndomene was apprehended by revellers outside the bar as he attempted to flee the scene.
