News / National
Man dies over choice of bottle store music
13 Feb 2014 at 22:42hrs | Views
A 24-year-old Zvishavane man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for fatally striking a fellow patron with a stone on the head during a beer drink in a dispute over music which was being played in a bottle store.
Golden Bako (24) of Tichagwa Village under Chief Chivi was being jointly accused with Amiri Phiri (18) and Elisha Simango (22), both of Busvumani Village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane, when he appeared before High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva in Gweru facing murder charges.
Bako was convicted of murder with actual intent and sentenced to an effective 17 years while his accomplices Phiri and Simango were convicted of assault and were fined US$500 each or six months in prison.
In addition, six months were wholly suspended on Phiri and Simango's sentences on condition of good behaviour.
The State's case was that on July 30, 2012, Bako and his accomplices went to Maramba Bottle Store in Zvishavane where they found the now deceased Manford Moyo, whose age was not given, of Madhadha Village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane drinking beer while listening to music.
Bako and his accomplices approached the bar lady and asked her to change the type of music she was playing and demanded that she plays music of their choice.
However, Moyo objected and ordered the bar lady to let the music play according to its sequence on the memory card.
Bako and his two friends confronted Moyo and an argument ensued.
The three suspects dragged Moyo outside the bottle store and started assaulting him.
Bako then picked up a stone and struck the now deceased Moyo once on the head and he fell unconscious.
The court heard that the three suspects fled from the scene leaving Moyo lying on the ground bleeding profusely.
The matter was reported to the police and the three were arrested.
Mr Shepherd Mafa appeared for the State.
Golden Bako (24) of Tichagwa Village under Chief Chivi was being jointly accused with Amiri Phiri (18) and Elisha Simango (22), both of Busvumani Village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane, when he appeared before High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva in Gweru facing murder charges.
Bako was convicted of murder with actual intent and sentenced to an effective 17 years while his accomplices Phiri and Simango were convicted of assault and were fined US$500 each or six months in prison.
In addition, six months were wholly suspended on Phiri and Simango's sentences on condition of good behaviour.
The State's case was that on July 30, 2012, Bako and his accomplices went to Maramba Bottle Store in Zvishavane where they found the now deceased Manford Moyo, whose age was not given, of Madhadha Village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane drinking beer while listening to music.
Bako and his accomplices approached the bar lady and asked her to change the type of music she was playing and demanded that she plays music of their choice.
However, Moyo objected and ordered the bar lady to let the music play according to its sequence on the memory card.
Bako and his two friends confronted Moyo and an argument ensued.
The three suspects dragged Moyo outside the bottle store and started assaulting him.
Bako then picked up a stone and struck the now deceased Moyo once on the head and he fell unconscious.
The court heard that the three suspects fled from the scene leaving Moyo lying on the ground bleeding profusely.
The matter was reported to the police and the three were arrested.
Mr Shepherd Mafa appeared for the State.
Source - Herald
