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Tsenulo Moyo
A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Mbembesi in Matabeleland South Province, who was facing attempted murder charges for allegedly poisoning his 66-year-old father, heaved a sigh of relief when he was acquitted of the charges.
Bekithemba Mtukelwa (20) was acquitted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga, who ruled that the State had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The State alleged that it was Bekithemba Mtukelwa who committed the offense because he left the place with his child before the food was served. The court was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the accused person who poisoned his father, even if he had done so, there is no overwhelming evidence to confirm he did it,” ruled the magistrate.
Allegations leveled against Bekithemba were that on 5 September 2024, at his father Terry Mtukelwa’s homestead in Mbembesi, he laced his food by putting cyanide into his mealie-meal and water after a misunderstanding with him and his sister.
He is said to have left with his son and property before the food was served.The laced food is said to have been eaten by a donkey and a dog, which died after consuming the food.
Throughout the trial, Bekithemba denied the allegations, stating that on the day of the incident, he had gone to his father’s homestead to collect his property to relocate to his newly built home.
He said he had a misunderstanding with his sister, who was looking after his son, prompting him to leave with his son before the food was served.
Online Reporter