adminMelody Baya Court Reporter
AN UNLICENSED 17-year-old schoolboy who mowed down three children in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb has escaped with a $200 fine.
The Luveve High School pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ran over the children who were playing next to a gravel road while speeding in a Mercedes on February 24 at around 6.40PM.
The three children, whose ages were not disclosed in court, suffered serious injuries and were admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital for several days each before being discharged.
Bulawayo magistrate Themba Chimiso, sitting at the Western Commonage Magistrates Court, convicted the Form 3 pupil on two counts of negligent driving and driving without a licence. The teenager pleaded guilty.
“On the first count of negligent driving, you’ll pay a fine of $200 and failure to do so will attract 60 days imprisonment.
“For the second count, you’re sentenced to three months in prison which will be wholly suspended on condition that you don’t commit a similar offence in the next five years,” said Chimiso.
Prosecuting, Tony Kamudyariwa told the court that the teenager was trying to avoid running into a child in the road when he lost control of the vehicle and smashed into three children who were playing on the side of the road.
“The three children were seriously injured. The first one suffered head injuries along with some bruises on the upper and lower limbs.
“The second suffered head injuries and swollen arms and legs. And the third also suffered head injuries and a deep cut on the left lower limb,” said the prosecutor.
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