adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl suffered a fractured arm for turning down a marriage proposal from a 36-year-old married man.
Madodana Sithole of Diba Village in Bulilima, who is employed as a herd boy, allegedly struck Sharmaine Moyo several times with a log after she refused to fall in love with him.
Plumtree magistrate Livard Philimon heard how Sithole ambushed Moyo on her way to fetch water and proposed love to her saying he intended to marry her.
The teenager turned down the proposal sending Sithole into a fit of rage.
Sithole reportedly grabbed a log and struck the complainant on the head and right arm several times, accusing her of breaking his heart.
Paul Mpofu, prosecuting, narrated how Sithole, who is Moyo’s neighbour, lost his rag on December 27 last year.
“Sithole ambushed Moyo while she was on her way to fetch water in the company of her sister, Caroline Sibanda. He professed his love for her and intention to wed her,” he said.
“Moyo dismissed his proposal and a misunderstanding ensured between them. Sithole retrieved a log and used it to beat the complainant on the head and right arm.”
Mpofu told how the teenager screamed for help and villagers came to her rescue.
He said: “Sithole fled the scene but he was later arrested on the same day. Moyo suffered a fractured arm as a result of the attack and was referred to hospital for treatment.”
In her statement in court, Moyo said: “Sithole has been professing his love for me for a while. I have been turning him down but he has always been persistent and telling me that he intends to make me his second wife.
“On the day he assaulted me, I maintained that I did not love him and this angered him. While he was beating me, he was accusing me of crushing his heart.”
Moyo initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to assault insisting that he only slapped the complainant once as she had insulted him.
He begged the court for leniency arguing that he had a child to look after as he was the bread winner.
Magistrate Philimon, however, dismissed Sithole’s defence.
“You cannot slap a person on the cheek and then she develops a fracture on the arm. It’s obvious that you used a weapon to assault her. Your actions deserve a jail sentence and I won’t spare you one,” he said.
“You should have considered the responsibilities you have at home before committing the crime.”
The magistrate sentenced him to nine 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.
“On the day he assaulted me, I maintained that I did not love him and this angered him. While he was beating me, he was accusing me of crushing his heart.”
Online Reporter