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Mashudu Mambo
A 29-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi in Matabeleland North province has been slapped with an effective eight-year jail sentence for striking another man with an axe on his head before stealing his property worth US$1 000.
Mayibongwe Ncube was handed his jail package when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Vivian Ndlovu charged with assault and armed robbery.
He pleaded not guilty to both counts but was convicted after a full trial.
Ncube was initially slapped with a 10-year jail term before two years of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In passing the sentence the magistrate took into consideration the fact that although Ncube was a first offender who committed the offence to fend for his family he, however, did not show any signs of remorse when he ransacked the complainant’s house while he was writhing in agony.
“While the complainant was lying helplessly, you were ransacking his house, and he could also have died as a result of the attack. According to the medical report, the victim is likely to suffer from fits and epilepsy,” charged the magistrate.
The court heard that on 5 July last year and at around 11pm, at Katsa Business Centre, Dumisani Moyo was sleeping in his bedroom when Ncube and his accomplice Fiselani Moyo who is still on the run broke into his house.
Ncube was armed with a log while his accomplice was armed with an axe.
Fiselani struck Dumisani with an axe on his head several times while Ncube went on to hit him with a log again on his head.
The duo then searched Dumisani’s house and took cash amounting to US$800, airtime recharge cards worth US$200 and 500 rand.
After committing the offence, they disappeared from the scene.Dumisani, who was left bleeding, later sought help from his neighbour Nokuthula Sibanda who assisted him to report the matter to the police.
Dumisani was referred to hospital for medical attention and investigations by the police led to the arrest of Ncube.
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