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A Gwanda man who fatally stabbed his younger brother in a dispute over a pint of beer on Christmas Day in 2011 has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Mandlenkosi Mabhena (26), of Kafusi area under Chief Mathe had the charge of murder reduced to that of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese.
Justice Makonese, sitting with Mrs Agnes Dhlula and Mrs Isabel Mashengele suspended three years for five years on condition of good behaviour and Mabhena would serve seven years.
Mabhena in his defence, said he accidentally stabbed his younger brother as he was trying to defend himself from some people who had attacked him.
Mabhena was at Kafusi Business Centre when he had a misunderstanding with Mr Meluleki Sibanda over a pint of beer.
Mabhena’s younger brother Thulani Mabhena (30) intervened and he (the former) beat him with fists.
A fist fight ensued and Mabhena stabbed his younger brother on the chest with an Okapi knife and fled from the scene.
Other patrons tried to resuscitate Mabhena and rushed him to a nurse residing in the same area so that she could help resuscitate him but he died on the way.
Thulani Mabhena’s body was taken to Manama Hospital for post-mortem while Mabhena escaped to Botswana through an illegal point and was arrested when he was deported.
Mrs Sophie Matimba represented Mabhena pro deo while Mr Thomson Hove from the Attorney General’s Office appeared for the State.
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