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Danisa Masuku
A MAN from Plumtree has been caged for three years for stabbing a villager over who was to play snooker with a fellow community member.
Batsirai Kandai appeared for trial before High Court Judge, Evangelister Kabasa, facing a murder charge. However, due to some circumstances, the charge was altered to culpable homicide. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. He said he acted in self-defence when the deceased Kenos Ncube kicked him. Kandai stated that Ncube provoked him when he snatched a snooker stick from him and went outside of the bar.
However, the Judge found him guilty and sentenced him to five years. Two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. He will effectively serve three years behind bars. The court heard that on 5 August 2019 at around 5 pm, Kandai and the deceased were playing snooker at Dingumuzi business centre in Plumtree.
An argument broke out between the deceased and the accused over who was to play the next game with an unidentified patron who had won the previous game.
The deceased took the snooker ball stating that he was the one to play, however, that did not go down well with Kandai who teamed up with his friend called Bless Banda. Banda forcefully took the ball from the deceased and pushed Ncube to the ground.
After that, Ncube woke up and took the snooker ball and dashed out of the bottle store. The deceased kicked Kandai in the stomach. After that, the pair shouted at each other. Tempers flared between them and amidst that, Kandai stabbed Ncube in the chest.
He staggered and fell into the murderer’s car. Kandai lifted him and put him in his car before rushing him to Plumtree District Hospital. Ncube, however, died before they reached the hospital. The matter was reported to the police leading to Kandai’s arrest.
Online Reporter