Man ‘fatally stabs’ fellow patron

A 21-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man, who allegedly ganged up with an accomplice still at large and fatally stabbed a fellow patron at a beer garden in Emganwini suburb appeared in court yesterday.
Alpha Ndaba of Emganwini suburb who appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube, facing a murder charge, was remanded in custody to February 13.

The incident occurred on December 20, last year at Emganwini Shopping Centre.

Prosecuting, Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that the now deceased, who was not mentioned in court papers, was drinking beer at a local bar in the company of Ndaba, his girlfriend Beular Ncube and Ndaba’s alleged accomplice, Clayton Khumalo, who is still at large.

At around 10.30PM, Ms Ncube left the bar and went home, leaving the deceased behind with Ndaba and Khumalo. The trio later left the bar separately and began walking towards their respective homes.

“While on their way home, Ndaba and Khumalo had a misunderstanding with the deceased over an undisclosed issue, leading to the two stabbing the deceased on the leg with a knife,” said Ms Kuzu.

The court heard that despite the serious injury, the accused and his accomplice did not seek immediate medical assistance. Instead, they allegedly assisted the wounded man to walk home, where they misled Ms Ncube by claiming that the deceased had been accidentally stabbed while they were defending themselves from three unknown men, who had attacked them on their way home.

“The two further assisted the now deceased to walk as they headed to Khumalo’s place of residence, where they spent the night with him,” the prosecutor said.

The following day, the deceased’s condition deteriorated.

“At around 7AM, Ndaba and Khumalo approached Ms Ncube and informed her that the now deceased was struggling to breathe,” Ms Kuzu told the court.

The accused and his accomplice then hired a taxi to United Bulawayo Hospitals, (UBH) where the deceased was pronounced dead upon arrival. Following confirmation of the death, Ndaba and Khumalo allegedly fled, triggering a police manhunt.

In a dramatic turn of events, the court heard that Ndaba was arrested more than a month later after sneaking into Ms Ncube’s residence under the cover of darkness.

“On January 29, at around 11PM, Ndaba unlawfully entered Ms Ncube’s home, assaulted her and damaged her property. Members of the public apprehended him and alerted the police, who later established that he was wanted in connection with the murder case,” said Ms Kuzu.

Meanwhile, another man appeared before the same magistrate also facing a murder charge.
Larry Ngwenya (25) of New Magwegwe was remanded in custody to February 16.

Prosecuting, Mr Tafara Dzimbanhete told the court that on January 30, near Whatever Shops in New Lobengula, Ngwenya allegedly struck the complainant with an unknown object on the back of the head.
The complainant collapsed and was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital, where he later died.