Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo and Kimberley Chitambara ,Chronicle Writers
A 28-year-old man from Njube suburb in Bulawayo, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for robbery, has attributed his descent into criminality to growing up without a father. Alexandra Ngwenya told the Bulawayo
Magistrates’ Court, during mitigation before sentencing, that he was raised by a stepmother following the death of his father.
He claimed that his stepmother abused him and favoured her biological children, leaving him feeling abandoned and ultimately seeking comfort in a life of crime.
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla convicted and sentenced Ngwenya for the robbery offence. In passing sentence, Ms Mnkandla noted that Ngwenya, along with two accomplices, inflicted trauma and injuries on Mr Charlton Sibanda of Selbourne Brooke.
The trio reportedly strangled, assaulted, and robbed Sibanda of his Honda Fit vehicle and US$1 000 in cash outside his home in November last year.
However, the two alleged accomplices — Tyson Taylor Moyo (29) and Zibusiso Ndlovu (33) — were discharged at the close of the State’s case after no evidence was found linking them to the crime.
“The manner in which the offence was committed shows prior premeditation. Their faces were covered to conceal their identities. The offender ran over the victim without regard for whether he would survive,” said Ms Mnkandla, adding the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating ones.
In mitigation, Ngwenya pleaded for leniency, stating that he lacked the guidance a father would have provided.
“My stepmother focused more on her children,” he said.
Ngwenya will serve seven years effectively, after two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari told the court that the victim was known to Ngwenya prior to the offence, as they had previously lived in the same neighbourhood in Nketa suburb.
He said that on November 13, last year, at around 8PM, the victim arrived home and parked his black Honda Fit. After disembarking to open the gate, taking the car keys with him, he was ambushed by the three accused persons.
“One of the accused pointed a pistol at the complainant while the other two wrestled him and took the car keys. The accused persons jumped into the vehicle, took control of the steering, reversed it, and ran over the complainant, who sustained a broken right leg,” said Mr Mugari.
A police report was filed at Khumalo Police Station, and the victim was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for treatment.
Inside the vehicle was a small sling bag containing US$1 000 in cash, the court heard.
The car was later recovered on November 14, last year, abandoned near Food 4 Less shops in Emganwini suburb.
The stolen property was valued at US$6 500, of which US$5 500 was recovered.
