adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A MAN has been jailed for two years for stabbing a police officer while resisting arrest.
Mqondisi Ncube, 27, of Simukwe Village in Mangwe, knifed Constable Daniel Makunde twice on the arm as he was being nabbed on a poaching charge.
Ncube pleaded not guilty to illegal hunting, but offered a guilty plea for the assault on the police officer.
Yesterday, Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa convicted Ncube on both counts and sent him away for two years.
He told him: “You can’t plead guilty to assaulting a police officer and then deny illegal hunting. It’s obvious that you had to have committed an offence in order for you to resist arrest.
“If you were innocent of those charges, you wouldn’t have assaulted or stabbed the police officer. Your own actions have convicted you.”
Prosecuting, Medica Tshuma told how Makunde arrived at Ncube’s homestead shortly after 3PM on December 3 last year acting on a tip-off that the fugitive had returned.
Ncube had eluded police since April when a complaint for illegal hunting was made.
Makunde teamed up with Gibson Dube and Dan Sithole, both members of the Neighbourhood Watch, to apprehend Ncube but he fled his home when he saw them.
Makunde gave chase, leaving Dube and Sithole behind. When he caught up with Ncube, they wrestled and the poacher produced a knife, plunging it into Makunde twice on his right arm and inflicting serious injuries.
Makunde’s companions came to his rescue and apprehended Ncube. Makunde was treated at Plumtree District Hospital.
Online Reporter