Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A PLOT to murder a husband for money ended in tragedy on multiple fronts, leaving one man dead, his wife dead by suicide, and two hired killers behind bars after the High Court sentenced them to 20 years each for the brutal killing.
The High Court sitting on circuit in Hwange sentenced Ndabezinhle Sithole (28) and Brian Matinyadze (35) to 20 years’ imprisonment each for the murder of Arnold Moyo, whom they admitted killing at his Nyamandlovu home in July 2021.
Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Nokuthula Moyo convicted the pair after they pleaded guilty to murder.
The duo had initially sought to be convicted of culpable homicide, arguing that they had been lured and compelled by the deceased’s wife, Sitshengisiwe Moyo, to commit the offence. However, the court found them guilty of murder.
Court proceedings revealed that Sitshengisiwe, whose marriage to the deceased was reportedly strained, invited the two men who are her mother’s neighbours from Mzilikazi Township in Bulawayo to her rural homestead under the pretext that they would assist with agricultural work.
According to the accused persons’ confirmed warned and cautioned statements, Sitshengisiwe later disclosed that she wanted them to kill her husband, allegedly promising to pay them R7 000 and ZWL50 000 after the burial.
On the night of 30 July 2021, a domestic dispute erupted between the couple inside the kitchen hut.
The confrontation quickly escalated into a fatal attack.
Sithole told the court that Matinyadze struck Arnold Moyo on the head with the back of an axe head before he stabbed him several times in the stomach. Matinyadze then allegedly seized the knife and stabbed the victim in the neck, while Sithole struck him again with the axe head.
A post-mortem later revealed that the deceased suffered five stab wounds to the stomach, neck, back, head and face.
The following morning, the two men fled to Bulawayo after allegedly receiving transport money from Sitshengisiwe. Before leaving, they stole the deceased’s SQ mobile phone and a pair of black tennis shoes.
Police investigations led to the recovery of the stolen phone after it had been sold for US$10 at Renkini Bus Terminus, while the victim’s shoes were recovered from Matinyadze’s house. Detectives also recovered the murder weapons — an axe head and a kitchen knife after the accused made indications to investigators.
As investigations intensified, police brought Sitshengisiwe to Bulawayo Central Police Station for questioning.
However, she slipped away from the station before detectives could interview her.
Hours later, she was found dead along Clyde Road in Famona after allegedly ingesting poison. A bottle of Cooper Supa Dip was recovered beside her body.
During mitigation, the defence urged the court to return a verdict of culpable homicide, arguing that the accused had acted under the influence of Sitshengisiwe and had shown remorse by co-operating with police.
The prosecution led by Mrs Charlene Gorerino maintained that the attack was premeditated and brutal, highlighting that the accused travelled to Nyamandlovu after receiving transport money, carried out the killing, stole the victim’s belongings and attempted to conceal the murder weapons.
Justice Moyo rejected the defence’s argument, finding that the evidence demonstrated a clear intention to kill.
The court sentenced both Sithole and Matinyadze to 20 years in prison for murder.
