A man from Esigodini was last week jailed for an effective seven years for fatally stabbing a fellow villager in a scuffle over a girlfriend.
Report by Senior Court Reporter Limukani Ncube (30) of Plot 1 Wilsondale, Mbizo, under Chief Sigola, pleaded not guilty to murder and was lucky to be convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha. Thompson Hove for the State told the court that on October 8 last year at 8pm Ncube and the now deceased were drinking beer at Viki bottle store in Esigodini. Ncube entered the bottle store and the now deceased approached him and held him by the hand. He started talking to him allegedly threatening Ncube. Ncube freed himself from the now deceased’s grip and walked to the counter where he collected his change and left the bar through the back door. However, the now deceased followed him. He ran after Ncube and caught up with him after a distance. The pair started quarrelling and Ncube pushed the now deceased away asking why he was fighting him. However, the deceased hit Ncube with a fist on the forehead and tripped him to the ground. Ncube then drew a knife and stabbed the now deceased once in the abdomen. He fell down and Ncube ran away from the scene. The now deceased was later picked up by a neighbour who left him at his uncle’s homestead. A report was made to the police and the victim was ferried to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he was admitted. He died two days later. Ncube was subsequently arrest.
