News / National
Teen jailed for arson
13 Aug 2013 at 05:48hrs | Views
A Masvingo teenager, 18, will spend the next five years in jail after being found guilty of attempting to kill his friend's father by torching the hut he was sleeping in following an unspecified misunderstanding.
Kudakwashe Shava of Bhejani Village under Chief Shindi pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder when he appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Judith Zuyu on Friday.
He was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison but one year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In mitigation Shava said he committed the offence after being hired by the complainant's son who had had a row with the complainant earlier in the day.
For the State Ms Sophia Busvumani said on 22 July at around 2am, Shava went to Mr Saroni Muganyi (92)'s homestead in Muganyi Village under Chief Nyajena area in the company of Mr Muganyi's son, Langton.
The court heard that upon arrival Shava proceeded to a newly built hut where Mr Muganyi was sleeping with his unnamed wife.
Shava then took a bundle of thatching grass and placed it on top of a drum which was at the entrance of Muganyi's hut.
He then lit the bundle of grass with a match stick intending to burn down the hut before disappearing into darkness. Mr Muganyi was awakened by the light from the burning grass and he managed to put out the fire. A report was made to the police the following morning and investigations were instituted leading to Shava's arrest after his foot prints were identified at the scene of crime.
Kudakwashe Shava of Bhejani Village under Chief Shindi pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder when he appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Judith Zuyu on Friday.
He was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison but one year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In mitigation Shava said he committed the offence after being hired by the complainant's son who had had a row with the complainant earlier in the day.
For the State Ms Sophia Busvumani said on 22 July at around 2am, Shava went to Mr Saroni Muganyi (92)'s homestead in Muganyi Village under Chief Nyajena area in the company of Mr Muganyi's son, Langton.
The court heard that upon arrival Shava proceeded to a newly built hut where Mr Muganyi was sleeping with his unnamed wife.
Shava then took a bundle of thatching grass and placed it on top of a drum which was at the entrance of Muganyi's hut.
He then lit the bundle of grass with a match stick intending to burn down the hut before disappearing into darkness. Mr Muganyi was awakened by the light from the burning grass and he managed to put out the fire. A report was made to the police the following morning and investigations were instituted leading to Shava's arrest after his foot prints were identified at the scene of crime.
Source - Chronicle
