Man gets community service for assaulting pregnant wife

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A 31-YEAR-OLD Victoria Falls man was yesterday sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service for assaulting his pregnant wife with an iron bar and clenched fists.

A 31-YEAR-OLD Victoria Falls man was yesterday sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service for assaulting his pregnant wife with an iron bar and clenched fists. NOKUTHABA DLAMINI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Henry Ncube of Chinotimba high-density suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani. It is the State’s case that on the morning of May 5, Ncube’s wife Angelina Mvundura discovered a dialled number in his phone which she suspected to be his girlfriend’s.

Mvundura rushed to the bathroom where Ncube was taking a bath and allegedly started pushing and forcing him to explain why he was cheating on her.

The State said an annoyed Ncube turned on his wife and punched her three times before assaulting her several times with an iron bar which was in the bathroom. Mvundura sustained bruises all over her body and was taken to hospital.

Ncube said Mvundura’s behaviour was provocative and caused him to lose his cool.

“She confronted me while I was naked and she kept pushing me and forcing me to call my so-called girlfriend. The bathroom was slippery and I ended up falling. That was when I got angry and I ended up beating her,” said Ncube.

Mvundura told the court that Ncube was not supportive and often slept at his girlfriend’s place.

Before passing judgment, Rosemani warned Ncube to stop abusing his wife saying he would end up in prison.

“You are being violent in your own home which is supposed to be a place of peace. Your duty is to protect your wife and be faithful to her. What I find undesirable is that you knew she was pregnant and that you were risking her life and that of the baby,” said Rosemani.

“You must know that pregnant women are very emotional and you have to be patient with them. Your wife is left with a month to give birth and you are abusing her. What is the child going to think of you as a father?” she said.

Ncube was handed a six-month sentence of which three months were suspended for four years on condition he does not commit a similar offence.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition he performs 105 hours community service at the Vehicle Inspections Department in the resort town.