Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
A BULAWAYO nurse, who went on a violent rampage at a popular leisure spot in Tshabalala suburb and stabbed another man several times with a broken beer bottle has been convicted of attempted murder.
Tendai Junior Visande (age not given) of Nketa suburb was convicted by Western Commonage regional magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure and remanded in custody to today for sentencing. During the trial, Visande, through his lawyer Tapiwa Solani, argued he acted in self-defence after being provoked by the complainant, Tendai Gwaze (32).
“When my client and his friends arrived at the leisure joint, Gwaze confronted them and told them they were making noise. He then pushed one of the accused’s friends and tried to hit him,” said Mr Solani.
“At that moment, the accused sprang to his self-defence and a fight ensued. It is not true that the accused is the one who started the fight. The complainant was visibly drunk and caused a scene.”
However, the court ruled that evidence presented by the State proved that the accused had acted violently and unlawfully. Mr Maturure said medical evidence and witness testimony corroborated the State’s case.
“To buttress this, the accused admitted that he stabbed the complainant. A State witness gave coherent testimony, telling the court that the accused was drunk and violent as he stabbed Gwaze with a broken beer bottle, threatening to kill him,” he said.
Prosecuting, Melisa Dube told the court that the incident occurred on April 4 at around 6PM, at Chicken Corner in Tshabalala suburb.
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The complainant was seated inside his car with friends when Visande and his companions allegedly arrived and began pushing and shoving each other close to the vehicle.
“Gwaze tried to talk to the accused and his friends to move away from his car. All of a sudden, Visande ran berserk and picked up a beer bottle before assaulting the complainant with it once on the left cheek and face before it broke, said Ms Dube.
She said Visande went on to stab the complainant once on the right hand. The court heard that Gwaze sustained injuries from the attack and received medical treatment.
