Man stabbed to death over 'boring' music choice, suspect hangs self

A 23-YEAR-OLD Umguza man was on Thursday morning stabbed to death by a bartender over choice of music in a pub, but it emerged yesterday the suspect later committed suicide by hanging himself while in police holding cells.

Rabson Newili of Umguza district in village Two was stabbed to death by a bartender while drinking beer at Majalisi bottle store near Khami Sidings around 3am.

A family member who declined to be named told Southern Eye that Newili was drinking beer with his fellow locals, but started to complain about the bartender's choice of music which he deemed as "boring".

However, that did not go down well with the bartender who reportedly hit back at Newili accusing him of playing the "big brother" role in his territory.

The misunderstanding ensued and degenerated into a fight between the two.

"Newili was drinking beer at a place known as Majalisi bottle store. He reportedly complained that the bartender was failing to play music which suited them. This degenerated into a fight between the two," a family relative said.

"The bartender allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Newili in the chest resulting in him dying instantly. Those who were there phoned the police and the owner of the bottle store. However, the police came around 8am in the morning and took the body.

"After committing the crime, the bartender fled from the scene but was intercepted by the owner of the bottle store who latter on took him to the police and made a police report, leading to his arrest" he added.

The suspected was allegedly taken to Nkulumane Police Station, but sources claimed yesterday he hanged himself in police cells.

Newili's relative told reporters that they had heard that the suspect had committed suicide by hanging himself while in the police custody at Nkulumane Police Station.

Efforts to get comments from the police were fruitless.