Ngozi mine ‘monster’ blames evil spirits

Crime
A MAN from the Richmond dump site in Bulawayo, commonly known as Ngozi mine, allegedly stabbed a 66-year-old woman with an Okapi knife several times after he failed to rape her.

A MAN from the Richmond dump site in Bulawayo, commonly known as Ngozi mine, allegedly stabbed a 66-year-old woman with an Okapi knife several times after he failed to rape her.

BY PRESTIGE GAMA

Edson Phiri (31) yesterday appeared before Western Commonage provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo facing attempted rape, attempted murder and aggravated indecent assault charges.

Phiri’s savage attack against the old woman happened a few months after he indecently assaulted one of his neighbours.

66-year-old woman with an Okapi knife several times after he failed to rape her.

Moyo did not ask Phiri to plead to the charges before remanding him in custody to May 11.

Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza told the court that on April 24, Phiri sneaked into the 66-year-old woman’s shack at 2am.

He stabbed Ndebele once on the throat, left side of the chest, left abdomen and once on the shoulder with an Okapi knife.

“He switched off his torch and pushed me to the bed where he attempted to rape me, but I managed to cry out for help and that is when he stabbed me all over the body,” the victim told the court.

Phiri was found hiding in a bush the following morning and was arrested. He blamed evil spirits for the attack.

Mageza said in January, Phiri sneaked into his neighbour’s shack and inserted his fingers into her private parts.

Phiri disappeared after the sex attack and when he resurfaced, he allegedly pounced on the old woman.