Man assaults daughter-in-law in dispute over teaspoon

Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

A 48-year-old father-in-law from Senga in Gweru has been sentenced to four months in prison for assaulting his daughter-in-law following a misunderstanding over the ownership of a teaspoon.

Appearing before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Ms Beaulity Dube, Peter Dhomo, a widower from Senga suburb, faced one count of assault.
Dhomo was convicted on his own plea of guilty.

In mitigation, he told the court that he assaulted his daughter-in-law, Rudo Shoko, following an argument over a teaspoon originally owned by his late wife.

On the other hand, Shoko claimed ownership of the spoon, telling the court that her mother-in-law had given it to her before her demise.

Ms Dube sentenced Dhomo to four months in prison but wholly suspended the sentence for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within five years.

According to the State outline, on September 22, around 3PM, Dhomo slapped his daughter-in-law several times on the face, accusing her of stealing his late wife’s teaspoon.

The court heard that Shoko responded by saying that the spoon was hers, and a misunderstanding arose between them.

After being assaulted, Shoko reported the matter to the police, leading to Dhomo’s arrest.

In a separate incident, an 18-year-old man from Nehosho suburb in Gweru was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing a cellphone he had come across while buying meat from a shop called World of Offals Butchery.

Emmanuel Teketa, the court heard, stole a Huawei Y7 Pro 2019 worth US$70 from Constance Katsande, who works in the butchery.

Ms Dube convicted Teketa on his own plea of guilty and sentenced him to three months in prison. She said theft is a serious crime that should not be tolerated.

In mitigation, Teketa said he committed the offence hoping to sell the cellphone and get some money.

Teketa will, however, perform 105 hours of community service at Matongo Primary School in Senga after Ms Dube suspended three months for five years on condition of good behaviour.