News / National
Man steals neighbour's goats
10 Jan 2015 at 08:49hrs | Views
The love for meat and partying landed one Chigodora man in trouble after he allegedly slaughtered his neighbour's two goats during the festive holiday.
Clifford Rakabopa (30) pleaded not guilty to stock theft when he appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura last week.
The magistrate warned him against lying in the court of law.
"We do not force people to plead guilty here since this is the court of law.
"However, if you are found guilty after the trial you should be prepared for a stiffer sentence because you would have wasted our time."
He was ordered to pay $50 bail by the courts and the matter will go for trial on 12 January 2015.
Mr Cuthbert Bhosha prosecuted.
It was the State's case that on 23 December, Rakabopa was found in possession of two goat skins which looked the same as Gladys Mushoriwa's goats which had gone missing the previous day.
"After Mushoriwa failed to locate her goats, she went on a search the following morning tracking the goats' tracks which led to Rakabopa's house"
"On arrival, she found that Rakabopa had already skinned the goats since the skins were being dried by the fire."
Rakabopa, however, denied the allegations stating clearly that the goats had been sold to him.
"I bought the goats and did not steal them.
"I, however, did not know that they were already stolen and belonged to my neighbour."
Clifford Rakabopa (30) pleaded not guilty to stock theft when he appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura last week.
The magistrate warned him against lying in the court of law.
"We do not force people to plead guilty here since this is the court of law.
"However, if you are found guilty after the trial you should be prepared for a stiffer sentence because you would have wasted our time."
He was ordered to pay $50 bail by the courts and the matter will go for trial on 12 January 2015.
Mr Cuthbert Bhosha prosecuted.
It was the State's case that on 23 December, Rakabopa was found in possession of two goat skins which looked the same as Gladys Mushoriwa's goats which had gone missing the previous day.
"After Mushoriwa failed to locate her goats, she went on a search the following morning tracking the goats' tracks which led to Rakabopa's house"
"On arrival, she found that Rakabopa had already skinned the goats since the skins were being dried by the fire."
Rakabopa, however, denied the allegations stating clearly that the goats had been sold to him.
"I bought the goats and did not steal them.
"I, however, did not know that they were already stolen and belonged to my neighbour."
Source - manicapost
