A BINGA man was lucky to escape a lengthy custodial jail term after he was convicted of killing his cousin after a misunderstanding over a chicken. Makhandeni Lovemore Dube (30) of Sianungu in Binga was convicted on a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese sitting as the Hwange High Court circuit.
BY TINASHE MUNGAZI
He was sentenced to five years in prison of which one year was conditionally suspended.
In passing sentence, Makonese said although Dube did not intentionally cause Sibangani Muzamba’s death, his moral blameworthiness was high, as he had failed to control his temper during a misunderstanding over a chicken.
“The court notes that your plea is a sign of your submission and that you were drunk, however, accused’s conduct led to the unnecessary death of the deceased. The issue was trivial and should not have led to someone dying. Though the deceased was the aggressor, the accused’s response ignited an unnecessary fire. Your moral blameworthiness is high and with such cases on the increase the court has a duty to protect the sanctity of life,” Justice Makonese said.
A post-mortem revealed that Muzamba suffered brain trauma has a result of the blow and hitting his head to the ground when he fell.
