Sidumisile Mabena
Kimberley Chitambara
[email protected]
A 37-year-old man from Inyathi in Bubi District who was convicted of attempted murder has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Veron Muleya of Dromoland Village 1 appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Taurai Manwere, facing a charge of attempted murder after striking Nkazimulo Kunene, the complainant three times with an axe. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate noted that the accused person targeted a very sensitive part of the body, the head, and left the victim at the scene while bleeding profusely. He also lost his teeth.
Muleya was sentenced to five years in prison with two years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Ms Nomthandazo Mafu told the court that on May 1 and at around 10PM at Dromoland Village 1, Inyathi the complainant was on his way home when the accused person came from the bushes and struck the complainant three times on the head, once on the left cheek and once on the mouth for an unknown reason.
“The accused person then left the complainant unconscious and bleeding profusely on the road and he later gained consciousness at around 12:30AM and managed to proceed home,” said Ms Mafu.
Due to the attack, the complainant suffered serious injuries, deep cut on the head, left cheek and on the mouth and he lost his four teeth.
The court heard that, upon arrival at home he was taken to Inyathi Police by Elvis Sibanda and Khosilani who reported the case as the complainant was not able to talk, leading to the arrest of the accused person.
The complainant was referred to Inyathi District Hospital for medical attention and was admitted for seven days. A medical report was produced in court as exhibit.
