adminTatenda Gapare
A TSHOLOTSHO man appeared in court for allegedly striking his elder brother with an axe on the eye for quarrelling with their mother.
This came out when Smiley Mlotshwa (31) from Samahuru village appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Abednigo Ndebele charged with attempted murder. Prosecuting, Mrs Concilia Ncube said on 29 September at around 10pm Mlotshwa and his family members were sitting in a kitchen hut where they were warming themselves around the fire place.
“While sitting in the kitchen hut a dispute arose between Welcome, the older brother and his mother. This did not go well with Smiley, the younger brother, who then picked up a wooden stool and hit his brother all over the body resulting in him falling down. While lying on the ground, Smiley then picked up an axe and struck his brother once on the right eye and twice on the leg,” she said.
It is alleged that Welcome later lost consciousness and was rushed to Samahuru Clinic. He was later transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH). Mrs Ncube told the court that Welcome lost his right eye due to the serious injuries he sustained from the assault and also had a fractured leg.
On his first appearance in court on 8 October Smiley pretended to be mentally ill resulting in the magistrate sending him to be examined by two doctors in terms of the Mental Health Act Chapter 15:02. The two doctors, Dr Alex Mandovha and Dr Taurai Ruwara, who were sent to examine Smiley, however, confirmed that he had no mental disability and was fit for trial.
“The patient, Smiley, is well oriented to place and time. He has a normal thought process, is normal mentally and is fit for trial,” reads the letter from the two doctors. Smiley was remanded in custody to 9 November.
derick.khumalo