adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO dentist was yesterday hauled before the courts for allegedly assaulting his wife resulting in her dropping their two-month-old baby on the floor as she ran for dear life. Michael Macintosh of Number 5 Melbourne Court between 6th and Leopold Takawira Avenue in Bulawayo was not asked to plead to a charge of physical abuse when he appeared Bulawayo magistrate Ms Sibongile Msipa.
The charges against Macintosh were however withdrawn before plea after the complainant wrote an affidavit indicating that her husband had shown remorse, which prompted her to forgive him.
The prosecutor, Mr Masimba Saruwaka, said on 16 May at about 10.30pm, Macintosh arrived home drunk and confronted his wife before assaulting her several times all over the body with fists.
The woman fled leaving her two-month-old baby sleeping in the bedroom.
The court was told that the complainant returned a few minutes later and found her baby crying.
She took the baby out of the bed and while she was carrying the infant, Macintosh allegedly hit her again and the baby fell onto the floor as she ran for dear life.
The following morning, Macintosh woke up and packed his clothes on the pretext that he was travelling to Harare, the court was told.
However, later in the evening he allegedly stormed into the home clutching his bag and threw it at his wife before assaulting her. The woman sustained a swollen left eye. She reported the matter to the police leading to Macintosh’s arrest.
Meanwhile, a 34-year-old man was fined $50 or 30 days in jail for assaulting his ex-wife following a dispute.
Antony Mapfumo of House Number 57040 Lobengula Extension in Bulawayo and stationed at One Infantry Brigade Headquarters was convicted on his own plea to physical abuse by Ms Msipa.
Mr Saruwaka said on 13 May, Mapfumo and the complainant agreed to meet in the Central Business District in Bulawayo where the complainant was supposed to collect groceries and a letter of transfer for their child.
The child stays with the complainant’s mother in Beitbridge.
The court was told that after giving his ex-wife groceries and the letter, Mapfumo left during which the complainant got into a friend’s car.
When the car was about to pull off, Mapfumo re-emerged and ordered the driver to switch off the engine. He the got inside the car and started accusing his ex-wife of being promiscuous and an altercation ensued between the two.
Mapfumo picked a bottle, which was in the car and struck the complainanrt on the head.
She as a result sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.
Online Reporter