Danisa Masuku Court Writer
A Fort Rixon man (26) from Fort Rixon in Insiza District has been jailed for an effective three years for brutally attacking cousin with a machete, a knobkerrie and a beer bottle after accusing him of sleeping in his bedroom.
Xolani Moyo was convicted of attempted murder by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mathew Mutiro and sentenced to four years in prison.
One year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving him with an effective three-year jail term.
In passing sentence, Mr Mutiro condemned the use of dangerous weapons and said the courts had a duty to protect members of the public from violent attacks.
“Cases of attempted murder are a cause of concern in Fort Rixon. It is the duty of the courts to protect innocent citizens,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, highlighting the severity of the assault and the weapons used.
“The accused person used dangerous weapons, a machete, a knobkerrie and a beer bottle and struck the complainant repeatedly all over his body. The attack was serious and could have resulted in loss of life,” he said.
The court heard that on September 10 at around 9PM, the complainant, Qinisani Mathe, was at Inyozane Business Centre when Moyo approached him and demanded to know why he had slept in his bedroom during his absence.
Angered by the alleged intrusion, Moyo teamed up with another man, only identified as Junior, who is still at large, and attacked Mathe.
The two used a machete, a knobkerrie and a beer bottle to strike him repeatedly across the body.
The attack left Mathe with cuts to his head and bruises all over his body. He was subsequently referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals for medical treatment.
