adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 19-YEAR-OLD Mangwe teenager is in a critical condition at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) Intensive Care Unit after his cousin severely assaulted him for guzzling beer they were sharing.
Malidunyiswe Tshuma, 19, Shelton Dube, 18, and Michael Mayisa, 19, attacked, Saviour Tshuma, with a hammer, empty beer bottles, leaving him for dead on Tuesday.
The injured teenager was assisted by passersby who found him lying unconscious in a bushy area on the following morning.
The three assailants yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon facing attempted murder charges.
They were remanded in custody to February 3.
The court heard that Saviour was drinking with his two cousin brothers and a friend at Bulu Business Centre in Mphoengs at around 2AM when Mayisa started accusing Saviour of consuming a lot of beer compared to his other drinking mates.
A misunderstanding arose between them over the issue and Saviour struck Mayisa on the head.
Mayisa later connived with Dube and Tshuma and they agreed to discipline Saviour on their way home.
Prosecuting, Jane Phiri, said the trio severely assaulted Saviour all over the body and then dumped him in a bushy area.
“On January 19, Tshuma, Dube and Mayisa had a misunderstanding with Saviour during a drinking spree over consumption of beer.
“A fight ensued but villagers who were also at the business centre intervened. The trio then decided to attack the complainant on their way home. When they left the business centre, the three accused pounced on Saviour and severely assaulted him until he was unconscious and fled from the scene,’’ said Phiri.
She said Saviour was found on the following morning around 7AM and was taken to Brunapeg District Hospital, before being transferred to UBH where is admitted in the ICU.
Phiri said blood stained clothes belonging to the trio were recovered at their homes leading to their arrest.
She said Saviour suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack and his condition was critical.
Online Reporter