Online Reporter
Court Reporter
A MAN from Filabusi, Xolani Ncube, has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for fatally shooting a young man following a dispute over a missing snooker ball.
The incident occurred on April 24, 2024, when Ncube suspected that one of the two young men had misappropriated his snooker ball. Determined to recover it, Ncube set out to locate the pair.
At some point, the two men broke free from him, prompting the deceased to reportedly look for Ncube at his home to apologise and offer to replace the ball.
Ncube denied that the deceased and others came in peace to discuss the snooker ball issue, asserting instead that they intended to rob him.
This claim was sharply contested, as the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s visit remain disputed. The visit ended in tragedy when Ncube shot him to death.
The court was tasked with determining whether Ncube acted in self-defence, as he alleged, or with intent to kill, as argued by the State.
Ncube testified that a group of armed men had come to his house intending to rob him.
He admitted to shooting one of the men in the arm, but maintained that the attack continued, forcing him to shoot again.
However, police investigations found no weapons at the scene, a fact confirmed by both police officers who conducted the search. The State witnesses also denied carrying any weapons.
The court found no evidence supporting Ncube’s claim of a robbery attempt. Justice Ngoni Nduna ruled that Ncube deliberately shot and killed the deceased without giving him a chance to speak or resolve the matter peacefully.
Peter Tanyanyiwa