Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
A COWDRAY Park man turned into a one-man demolition squad after a drinking session and attacked his cousin with an axe handle before setting his belongings ablaze.
Trust Nkomo (26) must now swap his home comforts for a prison cell after being sentenced to four months in jail for going on to assault his cousin, Bukhosi Lusinga (26).
Nkomo was also ordered to cough up US$100 and pay US$150 in restitution for the fiery destruction of his cousin’s property.
Western Commonage magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube convicted him of physical abuse and malicious damage to property.
Prosecuting, Cathrine Kuzu said trouble started on 30 May at around 4PM when Nkomo staggered home drunk brandishing an axe.
Instead of using the axe for chopping firewood, Nkomo decided his cousin was the target.
The court heard that he repeatedly assaulted Bukhosi with the metal axe handle all over the body.
As if starring in his own action movie, Nkomo gathered his cousin’s belongings, including various clothes, two plastic buckets and six two-in-one blankets, before setting them on fire.
Witnesses could only watch as flames turned the items into ashes.
By the time the smoke cleared, Bukhosi had injuries requiring medical attention and property worth US$150 had gone up in smoke.
Unfortunately for Nkomo, the police were not impressed by his performance.
A report was made, leading to his arrest and court appearance.
For the assault charge, he was sentenced to six months in prison.
Two months were suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour, leaving him with an effective four-month jail term.
For malicious damage to property, he was fined US$100 or 30 days in prison.
A further two months imprisonment were suspended on condition he pays back the US$150 value of the destroyed property.
