Langa Mabena
Mashudu Mambo
A man from Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo who stabbed a police officer to death in a dispute over a cigarette has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in prison.
Mthulisi Moyo recently appeared before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa facing a charge of murder. He was convicted and sentenced.
In his defence, Moyo indicated that he was acting in self-defence because he was being assaulted by the deceased.
“When I got inside the bar, I found the deceased with Mzobanzi Mahlangu and Bhekimpilo Ncube. The deceased blocked my way. Mahlangu joined in by holding my hand while Bhekimpilo Ncube came along and held my left hand.
“The deceased was strangling me, while others kicked me until I fell to the ground. The deceased continued strangling me and I felt like I was dying. I spotted a knife and used it to stab the deceased to defend myself,” he said.
However, the court heard that on 8 October 2022 at around 11 pm at Emthonjeni bar in Figtree, the now deceased was drinking beer in the company of his friend Mahlangu while Moyo was drinking beer in the company of his friends outside the bar.
At around 11:30 pm, the barman Ncube was ordered to close the bar by his employer Christopher Masuku. However, the now-deceased pleaded with the barman to extend the closing time to allow him to finish his alcohol, and he agreed.
After a few minutes, Moyo entered the bar to buy a cigarette from the barman and the now-deceased interjected and advised him that the bar had been closed.
This led to a misunderstanding between the two who exchanged insults. The barman intervened by attempting to restrain Moyo with the help of Mahlangu in order to chase him out of the bar, but their efforts were fruitless.
Moyo firmly stood his ground and the now deceased got up and ordered him to leave the bar but he remained kneeling. Suddenly, Moyo got up from his kneeling position and freed himself from the grip of Ncube and Mahlangu.
Moyo went on to stab the police officer once on the left side of the chest, once on the right side of the chest and once on the outer part of the right-hand wrist.
He slipped down to the ground bleeding profusely and Moyo quickly disappeared from the bar. The police officer died at the scene. The matter was reported to the police and investigations were carried out leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Online Reporter