Suspected killer rearrested

Senior Court Reporter
A MURDER suspect from Binga, who skipped bail seven years ago, stunned a magistrate when he claimed a police officer advised him to escape.
Mqondisi Sibanda of Lusulu told Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu: “I was told to report to police as my bail condition and a police officer advised me to hide.”

Sibanda allegedly fatally stabbed his neighbour Mbulungana Kabala Ndlovu three times with an Okapi knife on May 5, 2007. The two had been drinking traditional beer at Ndumiso Ngwenya’s homestead. He allegedly stabbed Ndlovu once on the back of the left ear and twice on the back with an Okapi knife. Ndlovu died instantly.

Sibanda (25) vanished on April 1, 2008 and had been on the run until his arrest early last month. He told the court he complied with the unnamed cop’s advice and skipped a routine court appearance on April 1, 2008.

The suspect, who had been reporting to police fortnightly as part of his bail conditions, has now been transferred to Hwange magistrates’ court and is set to appear again on Thursday next week.