A LOWER Gweru man, who struck his neighbour with an axe for labelling him a thief in a dispute over stolen maize, was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder.
By Stephen Chadenga
Obey Maphosa (27) of Village Gobo under Chief Sogwala had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, when he appeared before Gweru magistrate, Musaiona Shotgame.
In passing sentence, Shotgame said there has been an increase of violent cases in Lower Gweru, where people used dangerous weapons to settle differences.
He slapped Maphosa with five years in jail before suspending one-year on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Andrew Marimo told the court that on June 12 this year around 6pm, Ndodana Gwai went to the accused’s homestead, where he called him out of his hut before accusing him of stealing his grain.This did not go down well with the accused, who went back into his hut and took an axe, which he used to strike the complainant once on the head.
Gwai sustained a deep cut as a result and was rushed to hospital before a report was made to the police, leading to Maphosa’s arrest.
