Man breaks 12 year old boy's leg for 'making noise'

A Binga man has been imprisoned for 12 months for breaking a 12 year old boy's leg accusing him of making noise.

Philemon Sianinga (39) pleaded not guilty to assault but Binga magistrate Stephen Ndlovu sentenced him to 12 months in jail.

The magistrate suspended four months from the sentence on condition that Sianinga does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

It is said that on April 15, 2010 at 7pm, the boy who is now 14 and his two friends was sent by his father to return a rope to a neighbour.

On their way back, Sianinga hit and broke the boy's left leg with a stone. He was then seen by the boy's friends emerging from a bush running towards his homestead.

The boy was then taken home by his friends and a report was made to the police leading to Sianinga's arrest.

Sianinga told the court that he was sleeping when the boy was struck and brought his ex- wife to corroborate his story.

However, the former ex-wife turned against him indicating that when the incident occurred, Sianinga was not at home and only came home running after the boy was heard screaming.

The ex-wife said Sianinga told her that he struck the boy because he was making noise.