A Bulawayo man escaped death by a whisker after he was stoned in the head by a mugger before he was robbed of a cellphone and $10 cash.
This came to light yesterday when Mbuso Luphahla (32) of Trenance appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Thobekile Mkhosana facing a robbery charge.
Luphahla (32) was convicted of the charge despite a plea of not guilty after the court noted that the complainant Tapiwa Chinjundu had positively identified him and alerted the police.
Carrington Dhliwayo for the State told the court that on July 20, Chinjundu, who was coming from Morningside, met Luphahla who was travelling in the opposite direction.
As they were about to pass each other, Luphahla dashed towards Chinjundu and grabbed him by the neck. In the ensuing melee, Chinjundu collapsed.
Luphahla stoned him in the head and stole cash and a cellphone. Some Good Samaritans later picked up Chinjundu and took him to hospital. Police later arrested Luphahla after Chinjundu positively identified him when he checked out of hospital.
Luphahla was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in prison, but had six months of the sentence suspended on condition of good behaviour.
