Online Reporter
Musawenkosi Moyo
A 42-YEAR-OLD man from Fort Rixon in Matabeleland South Province who was being charged with assaulting his girlfriend was lucky to escape a jail sentence when he was ordered to pay a US$200 fine.
Bekithemba Nkomo appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele facing one count of assault.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a US$200 fine or four months’ imprisonment in default of payment.
Nkomo told the court that on the day in question, he had an argument with the complainant, Alice Maruziva, after noticing that US$200 was missing from his wallet.
He further stated that he did not assault the complainant with a sjambok but only used it to scare her into returning his money.
The complainant, however, told the court that the accused assaulted her after she refused to have sex with him again.
The court heard that on 28 January, 2025, at Shangani Business Centre, in Fort Rixon, at around 1am, the accused and the complainant were at the accused’s residence when, after having sex, a misunderstanding arose between them.
It was heard that Nkomo slapped the complainant several times in the face, struck her once on the back with a sjambok, and several times all over her body with an axe handle.
The matter was reported to the police, and investigations were carried out, leading to the accused’s arrest.
