TWO men were yesterday jailed for an effective six and half years after being convicted of attempted murder by a Gweru regional magistrate. STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Vusumuzi Moyo (19) of Mabhaya village in Insukamini, Lower Gweru, struck Ernest Marufu with an empty beer bottle while he was coming from Salaco Bar in Mtapa high-density in Gweru.
His accomplice Mthandazo Dube (23) then stabbed Marufu twice on the right leg and once on the shoulder with an okapi knife in a suspected robbery attempt. Marufu fell unconscious and had to be helped by cops who attended the scene.
Moyo and Dube’s three friends, Bright Dube, Donald Dube and Abraham Ndlovu were acquitted of attempted murder charges as there was not enough evidence linking them to the attack.
It was the State’s case that on December 10 2013 and at around 1am, Marufu was heading home from Salaco Bar in Mtapa. On reaching Mtapa Complex, Moyo struck him on the head with an empty beer bottle and he fell.
The two then repeatedly kicked Marufu all over the body before Dube produced an okapi knife and stabbed him on the right leg and shoulder and fled leaving him bleeding.
Marufu attempted to crawl back to Salaco, but fell unconscious before reaching the bar.
Police on patrol stumbled upon him and called an ambulance that took Marufu to Gweru Provincial Hospital.
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Investigations led to arrest of Moyo and Dube and the okapi knife was also recovered from the latter.
Regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire sentenced the two to 10 years, but suspended three years for five years. A further six months were suspended on condition the accused persons paid $24 restitution each towards the medical expenses incurred by Marufu.
