adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
AN Insuza man escaped death by a whisker when his brother allegedly stabbed him nine times with a spear following a brawl over beer. Khumbulani Maphosa, 36, was lucky to escape with severe injuries. He was rushed to a clinic and later transferred to St Luke’s Hospital where he was treated.
His brother, Themba appeared before senior regional magistrate Trynos Utahwashe facing attempted murder charges and pleaded not guilty.
Utahwashe remanded him in custody to May 14.
In his statement, Khumbulani said he had tried to stop his brother from fighting someone during the beer brawl and he in turn ambushed him near their neighbour Zenzo Khumalo’s homestead.
“The argument stopped but to my surprise my brother attacked me when I passed through our neighbour’s homestead. He came at me from behind armed with a spear, two knobkerries and an axe and struck me several times before I lost consciousness,” said Maphosa.
He said he sustained serious injuries and was on treatment for some time.
Robin Mukura, for the state alleges that on March 7, at around 9PM, at Khumalo’s homestead, Themba had a misunderstanding with another villager after a beer drink.
“Themba then laid ambush at a nearby bush intending to attack his brother. He sprang at Khumbulani armed with a spear and stabbed him several times. Khumbulani screamed for help and by the time villagers came to the scene, he had lost consciousness,” said Mukura.
Themba was later arrested.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter