Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Writer
A WOMAN from Insuza Village in Umguza District has appeared in court for allegedly stabbing her lover with a broken beer bottle, leaving him lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
Monalisa Phiri (30) was not asked to plead when she appeared yesterday before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira, facing an attempted murder charge.
She was remanded in custody to January 19 for the commencement of trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Mufaro Ndirayire told the court that the incident occurred on December 22 last year shortly after 8PM at Phiri’s family homestead.
Phiri allegedly arrived home and found her lover, Mpumelelo Mpofu (33), engaged in a heated argument with her aunt.
The court heard that Phiri became enraged and picked up a beer bottle, which she struck Mpofu on the head with. The bottle shattered on impact and she allegedly used a broken piece to stab him.
Mpofu sustained serious injuries to the head and stomach, bled profusely and collapsed.
After the attack, Phiri allegedly fled the scene and went into hiding. The matter was reported to the police, who launched a manhunt that led to her arrest in another village.
In a separate matter, Jabulani Moyo and Thulani Muza both of Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo, appeared before the same magistrate facing attempted murder charges after allegedly assaulting a suspected cellphone thief.
The two pleaded not guilty. The magistrate advised them to apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court, saying his court had no jurisdiction to grant bail in the matter.
They were remanded in custody to January 19 for trial.
Ms Ndirayire told the court that the incident occurred in Makokoba suburb, where the accused confronted Thulani Ncube, accusing him of stealing Moyo’s cellphone while they were drinking beer at a shebeen.
“They were armed with sticks and an iron rod, which they used to assault him all over the body while demanding the cellphone,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that a group of residents later joined in, kicking and punching Ncube.
Ncube sustained serious injuries and was left half-dead on the ground as the accused fled the scene.
A well-wisher intervened and ferried Ncube to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical treatment.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
