adminLeonard Ncube Court Reporter
A POLICE officer who confronted a group of gamblers was left holding his intestines after being knifed in the stomach, a court heard.
Constable Mpumelelo Siyagumba, from Pumula East, Bulawayo, went to Asheys Shops in the neighbouring Pumula South suburb accompanied by a friend on August 23 last year.
The two intended to wait for a relative who was coming from Binga at about 8PM. While at the shops, Siyagumba spotted Julius Tshuma, 27, Themba Masuku, 31, Javas Ndlovu, 24, and Mthokozisi Ngwenya, 28, gambling and approached them.
The police officer told the four, all from Pumula, to stop gambling as it was illegal, but the group stood up and started pushing and poking him, Tinashe Dzipe told the Bulawayo magistrates’ court.
Siyagumba, the court heard, fled with his friend but the gamblers gave chase. They stopped after Siyagumba noticed that he had been stabbed and his intestines were now protruding.
Tshuma, Masuku, Ndlovu and Ngwenya were arrested on August 31 after Ngwenya’s girlfriend shopped them to the police. Prosecutors say after the fight, Ngwenya picked a police cap belonging to Siyagumba and showed it to his girlfriend, not knowing that the woman knew the hat belonged to that particular police officer.
She called in the police after Ngwenya dumped her. All four men have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
The trial continues.
Online Reporter