Wife killer jailed 30 years

The man, who is married to the complainant’s aunt, had pleaded not guilty to the charge

A Chiwundura man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife in a case the High Court described as brutal and premeditated domestic violence.

Brighton Kadhlanga (26) was convicted of murder by High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, sitting on circuit at the Gweru Magistrates Court.

Justice Mutevedzi found Kadhlanga guilty of fatally assaulting his wife, Patience Madula, at their homestead in Chinyama Village under Chief Gambiza in Gweru in December last year. Kadhlanga had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Following a full trial, Justice Mutevedzi convicted him of murder and sentenced him to 30 years’ imprisonment.

In passing sentence, Justice Mutevedzi described the killing as prolonged and merciless, dismissing Kadhlanga’s claims that he had been provoked by allegations of infidelity.

“The attack demonstrated deliberate and calculated violence rather than a momentary emotional outburst,” said the judge.

He noted that Kadhlanga had also threatened to kill the couple’s child, warning that the incident could have resulted in a triple homicide had the infant not been removed from danger.

“When one is killed by the person expected to protect them, the marriage institution ceases to have meaning. No one kills the person they love. If a man no longer loves a woman, he must simply walk away,” he said.

Defence lawyer Mr Thomas Militao pleaded for leniency, citing Kadhlanga’s youth, his status as a first offender and his responsibilities as a father.

However, Justice Mutevedzi ruled that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating factors.
Prosecutor Mr Thompson Hove told the court that on December 20, Kadhlanga returned home from Maguma Business Centre and accused Madula of infidelity.

“An argument broke out in the family’s kitchen hut, where Madula was seated with her mother-in-law, Vimbai Zhova, and the couple’s two-year-old son,” he said.

Kadhlanga threatened to kill both Madula and the child before taking his own life.

“Fearing for the toddler’s safety, Zhova fled with the child to a neighbouring homestead, leaving Madula alone with the accused,” he said.

The court heard that Kadhlanga then launched a sustained assault using a burning log before striking his wife with a three-legged aluminium cooking pot weighing nearly 3kg.

Hours later, he allegedly telephoned the deceased’s brother, Irvine Madula, stating his intention to kill her over alleged extra-marital affairs.

The court heard that police and relatives later found Madula lying lifeless in a pool of blood shortly after midnight.

A post-mortem examination revealed that she had suffered severe head trauma, brain injury and subarachnoid haemorrhage linked to the assault. Irvine Madula testified that his sister told him during the call that she had been severely beaten and could no longer walk.