News / National
Suicidal son bolts out of burning kitchen after dispute with dad
28 Jun 2013 at 03:54hrs | Views
A FAMILY dispute between father and son almost cost a life after the 23-year-old-son locked himself in a thatched kitchen before setting it on fire in a bid to commit suicide.
Simba Maringesi, however, could not complete his mission after he bolted out of the inferno moments before the roof had collapsed.
Maringesi who was lucky to escape unhurt from the burning hut last Friday appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Vusimuzi Gapara on malicious damage to property and assault charges.
The charges arose from the fact that he burnt his father's kitchen before hitting a neighbour with a stone on the upper lip.
Maringesi who pleaded guilty to both charges was, however, spared a custodial sentence.
Mr Gapara sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment and suspended two months on the usual grounds before setting aside a further two months on condition that he restitutes the complainant $300 before July 31.
The remaining eight months were suspended on condition that he performed 280 hours of community service at Mapungwana Primary School.
It was the state case led by Mr Brian Madzura that on June 16, Maringesi burnt his father's kitchen, destroying property worth $300.
On the same day, he beat up a neighbour, Tomas Waini, who had been called to quell the feud.
"On the fateful day, the accused and his father, Gilbert Mtisi Maringesi had a misunderstanding, with the son accusing his father of neglecting him. Tomas Waini was called to quell the feud. However, Waini failed to calm Maringesi down.
An infuriated Maringesi sprang up and got into the kitchen hut where he locked himself from inside," saud Mr Madzura.
The court heard that persistent pleas by his father and Waini to unlock the door did not bear fruit as Maringesi was adamant that he should be left alone.
The court heard that when he was inside the kitchen he lit it from inside in a bid to commit suicide.
"The thatch burnt for moments and efforts to unlock the door by his father were unsuccessful. As the flame raged on, Maringesi bolted from inside and fled for dear life before the flaming roof had collapsed," the court heard.
"He then picked a stone and threw it at Waini who was trying to apprehend him. Waini sustained a deep cut on his upper lip," said Mr Madzura as he produced Waini's medical report," added the State.
Maringesi said he committed the offence to force his father to listen to him as he claimed that the latter had been indifferent to problems that were bedeviling him.
Simba Maringesi, however, could not complete his mission after he bolted out of the inferno moments before the roof had collapsed.
Maringesi who was lucky to escape unhurt from the burning hut last Friday appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Vusimuzi Gapara on malicious damage to property and assault charges.
The charges arose from the fact that he burnt his father's kitchen before hitting a neighbour with a stone on the upper lip.
Maringesi who pleaded guilty to both charges was, however, spared a custodial sentence.
Mr Gapara sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment and suspended two months on the usual grounds before setting aside a further two months on condition that he restitutes the complainant $300 before July 31.
The remaining eight months were suspended on condition that he performed 280 hours of community service at Mapungwana Primary School.
On the same day, he beat up a neighbour, Tomas Waini, who had been called to quell the feud.
"On the fateful day, the accused and his father, Gilbert Mtisi Maringesi had a misunderstanding, with the son accusing his father of neglecting him. Tomas Waini was called to quell the feud. However, Waini failed to calm Maringesi down.
An infuriated Maringesi sprang up and got into the kitchen hut where he locked himself from inside," saud Mr Madzura.
The court heard that persistent pleas by his father and Waini to unlock the door did not bear fruit as Maringesi was adamant that he should be left alone.
The court heard that when he was inside the kitchen he lit it from inside in a bid to commit suicide.
"The thatch burnt for moments and efforts to unlock the door by his father were unsuccessful. As the flame raged on, Maringesi bolted from inside and fled for dear life before the flaming roof had collapsed," the court heard.
"He then picked a stone and threw it at Waini who was trying to apprehend him. Waini sustained a deep cut on his upper lip," said Mr Madzura as he produced Waini's medical report," added the State.
Maringesi said he committed the offence to force his father to listen to him as he claimed that the latter had been indifferent to problems that were bedeviling him.
Source - Zimpapers
