News / National
Bull brought to court as exhibit in Zvishavane
20 Mar 2015 at 08:41hrs | Views
In an intriguing stock theft case between two neighbours, a bull had to be brought to Zvishavane Magistrate's Court last Wednesday to prove ownership of the beast.
The huge exhibit forced the hearing of the case to be held outside the courtroom, Masvingo Mirror reported.
The bull surprised the court when it displayed hostility against the complainant who claimed to be its owner while it was friendly to the accused who is said to have stolen it years ago. This sent tongues wagging about possible use of juju on the bull.
The bull was also surprisingly also friendly to the State Prosecutor who could get close to it without causing any irritation.
There was drama when the complainant tried to touch the bull at the court session held under a shed. The bull became agitated and threatened to charge but the State prosecutor and the accused could both get to the bull without it getting angry.
The matter was heard by Magistrate Peter Madiba.
Juju became quite a talking point at the court with people claiming that two witnesses who wanted to take the complainant's side have since died while the complainant himself now speaks with a stammer since the case started.
The State led by Stanley Ncube said at unknown date but in November 2007 Tavengwa Sibanda (50) of Tatisi Village, Chief Masunda Zvishavane Zindonye took away two beasts belonging to Kuguma Kuguma (32) from the grazing lands.
Kuguma said the two beasts were part of lobola received from an in-law based in Chivi who had paid bride price for an aunt. The accused claimed that the beast was born in his own kraal and therefore had always been part of his herd.
Kuguma failed to locate the beast since 2007 up to February 2013 when the bull suddenly appeared at a neighbour's kraal.
Contentious in the court was an 'F' brand mark on the left shoulder which belongs to the complainant that had been replaced with a Z on the left shoulder of the bull.
The accused argued that he did not remove anything from the beast but the spot which showed was on the left shoulder of the beast was caused by boiling water which he used when he was trying to treat the bull for a disease.
The huge exhibit forced the hearing of the case to be held outside the courtroom, Masvingo Mirror reported.
The bull surprised the court when it displayed hostility against the complainant who claimed to be its owner while it was friendly to the accused who is said to have stolen it years ago. This sent tongues wagging about possible use of juju on the bull.
The bull was also surprisingly also friendly to the State Prosecutor who could get close to it without causing any irritation.
There was drama when the complainant tried to touch the bull at the court session held under a shed. The bull became agitated and threatened to charge but the State prosecutor and the accused could both get to the bull without it getting angry.
The matter was heard by Magistrate Peter Madiba.
Juju became quite a talking point at the court with people claiming that two witnesses who wanted to take the complainant's side have since died while the complainant himself now speaks with a stammer since the case started.
The State led by Stanley Ncube said at unknown date but in November 2007 Tavengwa Sibanda (50) of Tatisi Village, Chief Masunda Zvishavane Zindonye took away two beasts belonging to Kuguma Kuguma (32) from the grazing lands.
Kuguma said the two beasts were part of lobola received from an in-law based in Chivi who had paid bride price for an aunt. The accused claimed that the beast was born in his own kraal and therefore had always been part of his herd.
Kuguma failed to locate the beast since 2007 up to February 2013 when the bull suddenly appeared at a neighbour's kraal.
Contentious in the court was an 'F' brand mark on the left shoulder which belongs to the complainant that had been replaced with a Z on the left shoulder of the bull.
The accused argued that he did not remove anything from the beast but the spot which showed was on the left shoulder of the beast was caused by boiling water which he used when he was trying to treat the bull for a disease.
Source - Byo24News
