A CALEDONIA couple that severely assaulted their tenant after a misunderstanding over the latter’s rental arrears was yesterday brought before a Harare magistrate charged with attempted murder.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER
Portifer Kapere (52) and his wife Fadziso Mupatiki (34) were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe and were remanded in custody to next Wednesday.
The duo, who were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Farai Gatsi alleged that on August 6 this year, the duo assaulted the complainant Tendai Chandata (30), as he was about to leave their house where he was a tenant.
The court heard that as Chandata was packing his household goods, the couple advised him to leave his bed and some clothes behind so that he would return to collect them after settling his rent arrears.
A heated argument broke out when Chandata allegedly spurned the proposal, leading to a scuffle during which Kapere assaulted Chandata with an axe in the head while Mupatiki assaulted him all over his body with a wooden stick.
It is further alleged that Chandata sustained a deep cut in the head, a swollen leg and right hand as a result of the assault. A police report was subsequently made, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
