Online Reporter
Fortune Makoni [email protected]
A 30-YEAR-OLD Inyathi man has been fined US$200 or five months in prison for assaulting a rival with a brick and a stone following a dispute over proceeds from gold sales.
Nkanyiso Ncube was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Inyathi resident magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe. He was fined US$200 or five months’ imprisonment.
In addition to the fine, the magistrate slapped Ncube with a five-month custodial sentence which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that Ncube does not commit any offence involving violence against another person during that period.
In passing sentence, Mr Mahembe said the mitigating circumstances outweighed the aggravating factors and that imprisonment would be too harsh in the circumstances.
Prosecuting, Mr Happiness Nleya said Ncube and the complainant, Mr Khumbulani Nyoni (37), were at Muclenuk Village in Inyathi on September 4 when they had a misunderstanding over proceeds from gold sales.
“The accused struck Nyoni once on the head with a brick and once with a stone, intending to cause him bodily harm or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that bodily harm might result,” he said.
Nyoni sustained a cut to the back of his head and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
