Two Bulawayo men accused of assaulting a security guard and stealing cash and equipment from a Thorn Grove company have been acquitted after the court ruled that the State failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tatenda Choga and Denson Dube were found not guilty on all charges by Bulawayo magistrate Barbra Phiri.
The court heard that on December 10 last year, at around 7pm, the two were alleged to have acted in common purpose to unlawfully enter company premises in Thorn Grove. Prosecutors claimed they stole two laptops, a printer and US$1 200 in cash.
It was further alleged that during the incident, the pair assaulted a security guard, Themba Dlamini, striking him with an iron bar and injuring his left arm before fleeing the scene with the stolen items.
The matter was reported to police, leading to investigations. According to the State, the accused were later arrested at Mzilikazi Shopping Centre while allegedly attempting to sell one of the laptops believed to have been stolen.
However, after assessing the evidence presented, Magistrate Phiri ruled that it was insufficient to secure a conviction, resulting in the acquittal of both men.