News / National
Man hires an assassin to kill his brother
20 Jan 2016 at 05:28hrs | Views
A 56-YEAR-OLD man from Plumtree who hired an assassin to kill his brother over inheritance before striking him with an axe after his plan was exposed, has been jailed for seven years.
Akim Dube's plan to hire an assassin failed and he struck his brother Lazarus Dube twice with an axe in an attack that saw his sibling losing 15 front teeth and a large chunk of his lower lip.
Dube, a father of six, became jealous after his parents bequeathed four beasts to their eldest son, Lazarus, 64.
He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere rebuked Dube for fighting over inherited cattle instead of working hard to buy his own.
"You reduced your brother to a ghost and it was a miracle that he survived that deep cut on his forehead. His facial injuries make him look scary and it is not in doubt that you intended to kill him," said magistrate Mberewere when passing sentence yesterday.
"In coming up with your sentence the court must set an example to people who want to settle family disputes by taking the law into their hands.
You are therefore sentenced to 10 years imprisonment of which three years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour."
In a statement read out in court, the would be assassin, Israel Ndlovu, said two years ago, Dube promised to give him a goat if he killed his brother.
"I recall sometime in the month of October, Akim approached me while I was attending a funeral and asked to hire me to kill his brother. I turned down the offer and clearly told him that I would notify Lazarus of the plot," said Ndlovu.
He said he told Lazarus about his brother's plan.
"On December 30, 2014, I heard that Lazarus was assaulted and picked along a pathway."
In mitigation, Dube told the court that he did not attack his brother.
"I am married with six children and made a living out of piece jobs. I do not know anything about this matter and I hope the court will consider my innocence," said Dube.
Prosecuting, Trust Muduma said Akim had publicly made several threats to harm his brother if he did not surrender the beasts to him.
He said on December 29, Akim waylaid his brother while he was on his way to Masendu Primary School where he is employed as a security guard.
Muduma said Akim left his homestead around 6PM carrying an axe and proceeded to a neighbour's homestead where he remained until 7PM before proceeding to the school.
He said Akim later met his brother who was on his way to work in a bushy area around 7PM and struck him twice on the head with an axe and once on the lower jaw cavity.
"Dube then fled from the scene and left his brother lying unconscious on the ground. Akim proceeded to Thekwane River where he washed his clothes and cleaned the axe to remove his sibling's bloodstains," said Muduma.
He was, however, spotted by his neighbours washing his clothes.
Muduma said on the following morning, Lazarus was found by villagers lying on the same spot where he had been left by his brother.
Akim Dube's plan to hire an assassin failed and he struck his brother Lazarus Dube twice with an axe in an attack that saw his sibling losing 15 front teeth and a large chunk of his lower lip.
Dube, a father of six, became jealous after his parents bequeathed four beasts to their eldest son, Lazarus, 64.
He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere rebuked Dube for fighting over inherited cattle instead of working hard to buy his own.
"You reduced your brother to a ghost and it was a miracle that he survived that deep cut on his forehead. His facial injuries make him look scary and it is not in doubt that you intended to kill him," said magistrate Mberewere when passing sentence yesterday.
"In coming up with your sentence the court must set an example to people who want to settle family disputes by taking the law into their hands.
You are therefore sentenced to 10 years imprisonment of which three years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour."
In a statement read out in court, the would be assassin, Israel Ndlovu, said two years ago, Dube promised to give him a goat if he killed his brother.
"I recall sometime in the month of October, Akim approached me while I was attending a funeral and asked to hire me to kill his brother. I turned down the offer and clearly told him that I would notify Lazarus of the plot," said Ndlovu.
"On December 30, 2014, I heard that Lazarus was assaulted and picked along a pathway."
In mitigation, Dube told the court that he did not attack his brother.
"I am married with six children and made a living out of piece jobs. I do not know anything about this matter and I hope the court will consider my innocence," said Dube.
Prosecuting, Trust Muduma said Akim had publicly made several threats to harm his brother if he did not surrender the beasts to him.
He said on December 29, Akim waylaid his brother while he was on his way to Masendu Primary School where he is employed as a security guard.
Muduma said Akim left his homestead around 6PM carrying an axe and proceeded to a neighbour's homestead where he remained until 7PM before proceeding to the school.
He said Akim later met his brother who was on his way to work in a bushy area around 7PM and struck him twice on the head with an axe and once on the lower jaw cavity.
"Dube then fled from the scene and left his brother lying unconscious on the ground. Akim proceeded to Thekwane River where he washed his clothes and cleaned the axe to remove his sibling's bloodstains," said Muduma.
He was, however, spotted by his neighbours washing his clothes.
Muduma said on the following morning, Lazarus was found by villagers lying on the same spot where he had been left by his brother.
Source - chronicle
