Convict appeals

sentence.
Dominic Mpona (40) was sentenced by magistrate Ms Priscilla Chigumba, who at the time was serving at Chitungwiza Magistrates Court, on October 21 last year.
Mpona said the magistrate erred in not accepting his evidence and that he had not played any part in the crime.
He said he was force-marched by the police to Rubatika Village where the crime was committed. Mpona said he was implicated by Nyasha Ziko, who had directed him to buy cheap meat from the village. He alleges that police forced the owner of the beast, Rosemary Mupanduki, to also implicate him. Mpona said the sentence was severe, considering that he was a first offender who ought to have been treated with leniency.
He said the court should have taken into account that he had restituted Mupanduki. Mpona said Ms Chigumba failed to give due weight to the fact that he was a family man and needed to be rehabilitated. He said she should have considered other options such as community service or a fine.