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Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A 45-YEAR-OLD woman from Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo has been arraigned for assaulting her 50-year-old husband and smashing his spectacles.
The man allegedly retaliated by breaking her spectacles as well. The couple seemed to struggle to see objects as they appeared in court yesterday.
Sabelo Sibanda appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube facing two counts of assault and malicious damage to property.
She pleaded guilty and was remanded to today for sentence.
Prosecuting, Ms Margaret Takawira said on September 28, Sibanda and her husband had a misunderstanding that degenerated into a fist fight.
“On September 28 in Emganwini suburb, the accused person and the complainant had a misunderstanding over infidelity issues. The misunderstanding resulted in the accused person assaulting the complainant twice on the mouth with fists,” she said.
The complainant sustained minor injuries as a result of the attack and did not seek medical attention. Ms Takawira said the accused also took Mr Sibanda’s spectacles from his face and smashed them.
“She took the prescribed glasses and smashed them,” she said. Prescription glasses range between $250 and $900. In her defence, Sibanda said she hit her husband in self defence.
“I did not assault him Your Worship, we were in the middle of a fight.
“He took my glasses first and then I also grabbed his and threw them to the ground. I was just retaliating.”
Magistrate Dube rubbished her defence and asked her if she was confusing spectacles with a ball.
“Prescription glasses are not a ball that you can kick and toss around, why did you throw them away? Spectacles are very fragile.
“Since you also use them, you must know how delicate they are, you cannot just be reckless with glasses,” said the magistrate.
Sibanda pleaded with the magistrate to be remanded out of custody as she said prison conditions are unbearable since she had a knee problem.
But Magistrate Dube shot down her request.
“That is what you get for committing a crime. Criminals don’t deserve comfort; there are no sofas in prison. If you want a comfortable life, stay away from crime. That is the problem of committing a crime, deal with it,” said the magistrate.
@andile-tshuma.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu