Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A 27-YEAR-OLD Kwekwe man who fatally axed his neighbour following a dispute over a US$5 transport fee has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Collen Ishmael of Penwarden Farm in Redcliff was convicted of murder by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Naison Chivhayo, sitting on circuit in Gweru, for the killing of 23-year-old Elias Kavhumbura Chimutiso.
Prosecutor Mr Talent Tadenyika told the court that on April 6 at about 1pm, Chimutiso hired Ishmael to transport groceries from Mutegude Business Centre to his homestead at Plot 19, Penwarden Farm, using an ox-drawn scotch cart.
The pair agreed on a fee of US$5.
However, after the groceries had been delivered, Chimutiso discovered that some of his goods were missing and refused to pay Ishmael until they were returned.
The dispute escalated into a fight at Chimutiso’s tuckshop.
“The accused was angered by the deceased’s actions and he followed Chimutiso to his tuckshop
where the two started fighting,” said Mr Tadenyika.
A fellow villager, Mr Elias Chikwetu, followed the two men into the tuckshop and attempted to separate them, but was unsuccessful.
The altercation later spilled outside, where Ishmael went to his scotch cart, armed himself with an axe and returned to confront Chimutiso.
“Chikwetu followed him and tried to persuade him to leave the scene, but Ishmael refused. The accused walked towards the deceased and struck him once on the left shin before delivering a fatal blow to the right side of his head,” said Mr Tadenyika.
Chimutiso collapsed and Ishmael fled from the scene.
The incident was reported to the police and Chimutiso was rushed to Kwekwe District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ishmael was arrested the following day and the axe used in the attack was recovered from his bedroom.
A post-mortem examination established that Chimutiso died from brain injury and severe head trauma sustained during the assault.
