News / National
Axe, petrol & brick attacks in fight over girlfriend
18 Jul 2016 at 06:48hrs | Views
A MARRIED Plumtree man was allegedly axed and left for dead in a fight over a girlfriend. Nicholas Tshuma allegedly axed Mr Bhekilizwe Tshuma after he allegedly broke into his love rival's bedroom and poured petrol on his bed before threatening to kill him for dating his small house. Bhekilizwe had allegedly hired a gang to surround Nicholas's homestead and assault him.
Bhekilizwe told regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze that Nicholas struck him with an axe outside his homestead. "I was walking home sometime earlier this year when I spotted Tshuma standing with my girlfriend. I confronted him and he clearly said she was his girlfriend too. We started fighting," said Bhekilizwe.
"As the fight progressed we moved closer to his homestead. Nicholas ran into his homestead and came back armed with an axe which he used to strike me on the head and I fainted."
The court heard that Bhekilizwe only regained consciousness at his home in the presence of his wife. Bhekilizwe told the court he was not aware of what transpired after he blacked out.
Mrs Msipa-Marondedze remanded Nicholas in custody to Friday for continuation of trial. Bhekilizwe's wife is expected to testify for the State. In his defence, Nicholas said Bhekilizwe broke into his homestead and sprayed his bedroom with petrol claiming that he had come to kill him after discovering they were dating the same woman.
He denied axing him.
"He ordered unknown men to surround my homestead and when I came out I noticed he was carrying bricks. I took an axe handle and hit him once on the shoulder and he dropped the bricks. I grabbed one brick and struck him as he ran away," said Nicholas.
Nicholas added that Bhekilizwe returned and tried to attack him with a brick, but he reacted quicker and struck first. "I was then arrested. I only attacked him in self defence as he was ready to assault me and torch my house," said Nicholas.
Prosecuting, Ms Concilia Ncube said on April 5 at around 10PM, Bhekilizwe met Nicholas walking with his girlfriend. "Bhekilizwe accused Nicholas of snatching his girlfriend. Nicholas dragged him off the road to his homestead where he axed Bhekilizwe thrice on the head," she said. "He then took a knobkerrie and hit him once on the back. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital."
Bhekilizwe told regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze that Nicholas struck him with an axe outside his homestead. "I was walking home sometime earlier this year when I spotted Tshuma standing with my girlfriend. I confronted him and he clearly said she was his girlfriend too. We started fighting," said Bhekilizwe.
"As the fight progressed we moved closer to his homestead. Nicholas ran into his homestead and came back armed with an axe which he used to strike me on the head and I fainted."
The court heard that Bhekilizwe only regained consciousness at his home in the presence of his wife. Bhekilizwe told the court he was not aware of what transpired after he blacked out.
He denied axing him.
"He ordered unknown men to surround my homestead and when I came out I noticed he was carrying bricks. I took an axe handle and hit him once on the shoulder and he dropped the bricks. I grabbed one brick and struck him as he ran away," said Nicholas.
Nicholas added that Bhekilizwe returned and tried to attack him with a brick, but he reacted quicker and struck first. "I was then arrested. I only attacked him in self defence as he was ready to assault me and torch my house," said Nicholas.
Prosecuting, Ms Concilia Ncube said on April 5 at around 10PM, Bhekilizwe met Nicholas walking with his girlfriend. "Bhekilizwe accused Nicholas of snatching his girlfriend. Nicholas dragged him off the road to his homestead where he axed Bhekilizwe thrice on the head," she said. "He then took a knobkerrie and hit him once on the back. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital."
Source - chronicle
