Man strikes friend with iron bar over spilt beer

Senior Court Reporter
AN Inyathi man was yesterday sentenced to an effective nine months in jail for striking his friend with an iron bar after he mistakenly spilled his beer. Amukela Mpofu, of Green Acre Village in Inyathi, Bubi district was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tawanda Muchemwa.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison of which three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

The court was told that on 4 May at 5pm, the complainant was at Green Acre Business Centre drinking beer with Mpofu under a shade.
While the two men were enjoying their drinks, the complainant stood up and in the process, he mistakenly kicked Mpofu’s bottle of beer resulting in the contents spilling out.

He tried to apologise but the request for forgiveness fell on deaf ears as Mpofu went berserk.
He started shouting at the complainant before striking him with an iron bar in the stomach, the court was told. The complainant sustained injuries as a result of the assault.

Soon after committing the offence, Mpofu fled the scene.
A report was made to the police leading to Mpofu’s arrest.