News / Local
Masvingo Poly student convicted of attempted murder
12 Apr 2016 at 06:19hrs | Views
A Masvingo Polytechnic student who drove off at high speed for 1.5km with a Police officer hanging on the bonnet of his car has been slapped with one-year jail sentence after being found guilty of attempted murder by a Masvingo Magistrate on Friday last week.
Masvingo Mirror reported that Alex Nehumambi who sometime in July last year drove off with Proud Nyenge hanging on the bonnet of Toyota Vitz from a Police check point was sentenced to three years in jail by Magistrate Collen Ncube but two years were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit the same offence.
Nehumambi had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge as defined in Section 189(1) A.R.W Section 47 of the Criminal Law. He was represented by Tongai Mutindi of Mupindu Legal Practitioners.
He was also fined $100 or 30 days in prison for driving without a license.
In reducing the sentence the Magistrate considered that the Police officers at the road block were giving conflicting statements and they had also assaulted Nehumambi after arresting him. Ncube also took into consideration the age of the offender and the fact that he was going to school and his statements were consistent.
It was also argued in court that Nehumambi was frightened by the deafening noise produced when the complainant jumped on the bonnet of the car as a result he panicked and drove off at high speed.
The Magistrate in passing sentence said not imposing a custodial sentence would send a wrong message to would be offenders as there is need to protect Police officers on duty.
The Police officer sustained head and leg injuries with some bruises all over the body after falling off from the swerving vehicle.
Masvingo Mirror reported that Alex Nehumambi who sometime in July last year drove off with Proud Nyenge hanging on the bonnet of Toyota Vitz from a Police check point was sentenced to three years in jail by Magistrate Collen Ncube but two years were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit the same offence.
Nehumambi had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge as defined in Section 189(1) A.R.W Section 47 of the Criminal Law. He was represented by Tongai Mutindi of Mupindu Legal Practitioners.
He was also fined $100 or 30 days in prison for driving without a license.
In reducing the sentence the Magistrate considered that the Police officers at the road block were giving conflicting statements and they had also assaulted Nehumambi after arresting him. Ncube also took into consideration the age of the offender and the fact that he was going to school and his statements were consistent.
It was also argued in court that Nehumambi was frightened by the deafening noise produced when the complainant jumped on the bonnet of the car as a result he panicked and drove off at high speed.
The Magistrate in passing sentence said not imposing a custodial sentence would send a wrong message to would be offenders as there is need to protect Police officers on duty.
The Police officer sustained head and leg injuries with some bruises all over the body after falling off from the swerving vehicle.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
