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Musawenkosi Moyo
A 37-YEAR-OLD man from Matheleni Village, Mbembesi, Matabeleland North Province, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stabbing his drinking mate multiple times following an argument over music selection.
Mncedisi Hadebe appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga facing one count of attempted murder.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and after a full trial the charge of attempted murder was dropped to a lesser charge of assault and he was given a 48-month jail term of which 12 months were suspended on the condition that he does not commit a similar crime within a period of five years.
During sentencing the magistrate noted that the accused did not contest stabbing the victim Khulani Mabothe but claimed that he acted out of self-defense.
The court dismissed this claim due to a witness statement which placed the accused as the attacker and also because of the fact that the accused stabbed the victim several times which surpasses what can be deemed as self-defense.
The magistrate ruled that the crime’s severity made a fine inappropriate. Such a penalty, he argued, would send the wrong message to the Mbembesi community.
Furthermore, the accused’s lack of remorse, evident by his failure to apologize to the court or the victim, was another reason a fine wouldn’t suffice.
“Normally for first time offenders the accused is given community service or a fine but due to the nature of the crime a fine would not be appropriate as it would send the community of Mbembesi a wrong image and the accused has not apologised for his actions to the court and the victim showing his lack of remorse” charged the magistrate.
The court heard that on 3 March 2024 the victim was drinking beer when an argument over song election ensued.
When the victim left the bar to avoid further argument the accused followed him outside where he stabbed the victim several times.
The matter was reported to ZRP Mbembesi leading to the arrest of the accused.
Online Reporter