Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Post Reporter
A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Odzi has been convicted and sentenced to four months in prison for bashing his ex-wife during a dispute over child custody.
Tatenda Chikwinya appeared before Magistrate Annie Ndiraya at the Mutare Magistrate Court.
Prosecutor Thurstone Mubvumbi said the incident happened on August 14 at around 2pm at a bus stop in Kuwadzana Village, Odzi.
Mubvumbi said Moregreen Mukanan’ana (43) had just disembarked from a vehicle when Chikwinya confronted her. A heated argument ensued during which Chikwinya struck her repeatedly.
The assault left Mukanan’ana with a swollen face and bruises all over her body.
In court Chikwinya did not deny the allegations.
He told the court that the children were not biologically his but from Mukanan’ana’s previous marriage.
He argued that he was provoked after learning that his wife had sent her brother to collect the children while she was away visiting her rural home during the Heroes Day holidays.
“I was shocked when her brother came to take the children without her being present. I did not refuse but I felt insulted and frustrated,” Chikwinya said in his defence.
Mukanan’ana said they had already separated prior to the incident and that Chikwinya had a history of physically abusing her though she had never reported the previous assaults.
In delivering the sentence, magistrate Ndiraya observed that Chikwinya was not a first-time offender and denied him the option of paying a fine.
However, the court granted him an alternative to serve 140 hours of community service at Odzi Police.
Mathew Masinge