Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Writer
A 35-YEAR-OLD Khami Prison inmate has been sentenced to an effective six months in jail after he bit off a piece of another inmate’s tongue during a fight.
Dumisani Sibanda of Nkulumane suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Archie Wochiwunga.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison, with three months suspended for three years, on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
Prosecuting, Ms Audrey Kufandikanwe told the court that on July 20, Sibanda and the complainant, Clement Maphosa (33), both serving time at Khami Maximum Prison, had a misunderstanding that escalated into a fist fight.
The two exchanged insults before fighting and although other inmates initially restrained them, Sibanda chased after Maphosa when he tried to flee. He head-butted him and the complainant fell on the ground where he strangled him.
“As the complainant struggled to breathe, he stuck out his tongue, whereupon Sibanda bit off a piece of it and spat it on the ground,” said Ms Kufandikanwe.
Maphosa was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment.
In another case, a 32-year-old Bulawayo man has appeared in court accused of raping and impregnating his 15-year-old cousin.
The accused, from Pumula South suburb, appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze facing rape charges. He was remanded in custody to September 10 for trial.
The prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo, said the alleged incident happened on July 6 when the complainant was asleep.
“On that night, around midnight, the accused stormed into her room, sneaked into her blankets and raped her,” he told the court.
The court heard that the man threatened to assault the girl if she told anyone.
“Out of fear, she kept silent until she was found bleeding.
She was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital, where doctors discovered she had attempted to terminate a pregnancy. On being questioned, she revealed she had been raped. A report was made to the police leading to the man’s arrest.
