Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
HIGH COURT judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi has sentenced a Gokwe man to seven years’ imprisonment for fatally stabbing his friend, who had gone to report him to his parents over alleged bullying behaviour.
Appearing before Justice Mutevedzi, who was sitting at the High Court circuit in Gweru on Friday, was Elton Kandoro (21), of Moses Village under Chief Njelele in Gokwe South, Midlands Province, facing one count of murder.
Kandoro pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to culpable homicide.
Justice Mutevedzi convicted him of culpable homicide following a full trial and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
However, Kandoro will effectively serve five years after the judge suspended two years of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Mr Talent Tadenyika told the court that on January 3 at around 8pm, at Moses Village under Chief Njelele in Gokwe South, the now deceased Bruce Ncube (22) went to Kandoro’s residence.
He said Ncube had gone to inform Kandoro’s parents about his conduct, following a misunderstanding in which the accused had allegedly been moving around the village threatening to assault him.
“The deceased approached the accused’s mother and they began to talk. The accused came out of the house and ordered the deceased to leave their homestead,” the court heard.
Mr Tadenyika said Ncube remained seated, a move that angered Kandoro, who went back into the house and returned armed with a homemade sjambok, a bicycle chain and a homemade knife.
The court heard that Ncube then stood up and fled from the homestead.
“The deceased ran away and the accused chased after him and after a short distance, the accused caught up with the deceased and stabbed him once on the back and once on the back of his neck,” said Mr Tadenyika.
He said Ncube collapsed and died at the scene after bleeding profusely. The matter was subsequently reported to the police, who attended the scene.
“The remains of the deceased were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals where a post mortem examination was conducted. It was concluded that the cause of death was due to mixed shock, spinal cord and lung laceration, stab wound on the back,” he said.
Further investigations were carried out, leading to Kandoro’s arrest.
