Man (22) gets 12 years for killing friend over lover

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A MAN residing at a bushy squatter camp close to the Matsheumhlophe River between Paddonhurst and Sunnyside suburbs has been slapped with a 12-year effective jail term for killing his friend following a dispute over a girlfriend.

A MAN residing at a bushy squatter camp close to the Matsheumhlophe River between Paddonhurst and Sunnyside suburbs has been slapped with a 12-year effective jail term for killing his friend following a dispute over a girlfriend.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

Maxwell Moyo (22) pleaded not guilty to murdering his friend Silence Moyo (21) when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva, but he was convicted on grounds of agreed facts between the State and defence.

Justice Takuva sentenced him to 14 years in jail and suspended two years for five years on condition of good behaviour.

In sentencing him, the judge considered the fact that he was young and drunk when he committed the offence.

Agreed facts between the State represented by Thompson Hove and defence lawyer Vuyile Mpofu were that the two were friends and resided at the same squatter camp.

On July 27 2013 at around midnight, Maxwell picked a fight with Silence over a girlfriend while they were drinking beer at Royal night club along Lobengula Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue in Bulawayo. Silence had accused Maxwell of grabbing his girlfriend.

At around 5am on July 28 2013, Maxwell and Silence arrived at the squatter camp from the beer drink and the misunderstanding over the girlfriend continued.

Maxwell picked a brick and assaulted Silence several times on the head, resulting in him falling unconscious.

He later died and his body was found on the bank of the river covered with a blanket.