Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Sunday News Reporter
A 33-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been sentenced to two years in prison for attacking his co-tenant with a hammer.Mbongeni Ndlovu of Pumula East denied the charge of attempted murder but was convicted by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere.
Ndlovu will serve an effective 14 months after 10 months were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
The prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo, told the court that the attack occurred in Pumula East at around 9pm.
The complainant, Lucky Moyo (28), was at home with his wife when Ndlovu, who was drunk, entered and accused him of being disrespectful.
Ndlovu left briefly, returned with a hammer, and struck Moyo several times on the head. Moyo fell to the ground, sustaining cuts and a swollen left eye.
He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment. A police report was made, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, three Bulawayo men have appeared in court facing charges of breaking into two shops and stealing inverters, batteries and groceries worth nearly US$5 000.
Bekithemba Ngwenya (35) of Cowdray Park, Brighton Mahlanga (47) of Pumula East, and Dylan Ncube (35) of Iminyela appeared before Western Commonage magistrate
Mr Archie Wochiwunga on two counts of unlawful entry.
They were remanded in custody to tomorrow (Monday) for a bail application.
The prosecutor, Mr Tafara Dzimbanhete, told the court that on 9 July at about 3am, the trio broke into an office at Haswell Readymix Concrete Products in Kelvin West, Bulawayo.
They allegedly stole a 25,6-volt lithium battery (model AT 25120) and a 24-volt Ecco inverter before fleeing.
On 7 August at about 9pm, the three allegedly targeted High Space Supermarket in Magwegwe.
They are accused of breaking a window pane to gain entry before stealing a Conder Energy Model S2 500 inverter, an HZ 48-volt lithium battery and various groceries.
A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the three men and the recovery of some stolen items, including the Conder Energy inverter and the HZ 48-volt battery, which were positively identified by the complainant.
The total value of stolen goods was US$4 847,35, with property worth US$2 700 recovered.
derick.khumalo