Beer brawl earns man 5 years in jail

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A 23-YEAR-OLD man who stabbed a fellow villager with a knife several times in the back and hands before striking him with a brick on the mouth has been slapped with a five-year jail term.

A 23-YEAR-OLD man who stabbed a fellow villager with a knife several times in the back and hands before striking him with a brick on the mouth has been slapped with a five-year jail term. PERPETUALL PHIRI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Aleck Tlou of Sukwi area in Gwanda had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Lawrence Ncube when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe last Friday.

Prosecutor Mncedisi Dube told the court that on December 8 2012 and at around 6pm, Tlou and Ncube were drinking beer at Marupi bottle store with Stanley Ndlovu who is still at large. Tlou and Ndlovu started insulting people threatening to kill those in the bottle store.

They picked on Ncube for socialising with one Jabulani Ndlovu, a member of the neighbourhood watch committee, and a misunderstanding arose.

Tlou teamed up with Stanley and stabbed Ncube once with a knife in the left hand and several times in the back resulting in him sustaining deep cuts. Tlou also hit Ncube with a brick once on the mouth resulting in him losing six teeth.

In his defence Tlou told the court that Ncube was assaulted by Stanley who is still on the run after he disarmed Ncube of a shovel he wanted to assault him with.

“Your worship, I never stabbed the complainant as I had no knife. Instead Ncube was the one who came with a shovel and assaulted me while I was inside the bottle store,” he said.

“In fact, he wanted to assault my brother, but he missed and struck me.”

Nazombe told Tlou that his version was flawed and he was panel beating his defence as the trial went on and it was clear that he had wasted the court’s time.

Tlou pleaded with the court to give him the option of a fine saying he had a young child to look after. He also said he was on medication and his wife was not well.

However, Nazombe told Tlou that his offence was serious because Ncube had sustained several serious injuries and also suffered a permanent disability after losing six teeth in the assault.

“The complainant has lost his teeth while you are still here smiling and it is clear that you acted on purpose with your brother who is still at large because the complainant did not provoke you.

“This is a civilised country, therefore you should not behave in a manner you did. We do not behave like animals, but we should allow others to enjoy their life and rights.

“The offence you committed and injuries sustained by Ncube are beyond community service or fine. Moreover you have been on the run for two years,” Nazombe said.