News / Regional
Poacher stabs cop twice during arrest
07 Dec 2013 at 02:49hrs | Views
A POLICE officer was stabbed twice on the arm by a poacher during an arrest, a court heard yesterday. Mqondisi Dube, 27, of Simukwe Village in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, plunged a kitchen knife into Constable Daniel Makunde's arm in a bid to evade arrest.
He appeared before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing two counts of illegal hunting and assaulting a police officer. Medica Tshuma, prosecuting, told the court that Makunde was wanted by police since April 25 when he snared an impala at Gaths Farm Sub Division which is owned by Graham Robertson.
He hid the animal in the bush, but a security guard on the farm, Matwani Mathe, spotted the carcass and decided to lay an ambush until the poacher returned for his kill.
When Ncube returned to collect his catch, he saw Mathe approaching and fled - dropping his kill. On December 3, the court heard Constable Makunde was assigned the unsolved case and went to Simukwe Village with Gibson Dube and Dan Sithole - both members of the neighbourhood watch committee - with the intention of arresting the suspect.
But upon seeing the trio, Ncube fled from his home with Const Makunde right behind him. After realising the long arm of the law was catching up with him, Ncube drew a kitchen knife and stabbed Const Makunde, causing heavy bleeding.
Dube and Sithole arrived on the scene moments later and apprehended Ncube. Constable Makunde was treated at Plumtree District Hospital.
Ncube pleaded guilty to the assault but entered a not guilty plea on the other charge of poaching. He will be sentenced later on the assault charge, while his trial for illegal hunting will start on December 9.
He appeared before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing two counts of illegal hunting and assaulting a police officer. Medica Tshuma, prosecuting, told the court that Makunde was wanted by police since April 25 when he snared an impala at Gaths Farm Sub Division which is owned by Graham Robertson.
He hid the animal in the bush, but a security guard on the farm, Matwani Mathe, spotted the carcass and decided to lay an ambush until the poacher returned for his kill.
But upon seeing the trio, Ncube fled from his home with Const Makunde right behind him. After realising the long arm of the law was catching up with him, Ncube drew a kitchen knife and stabbed Const Makunde, causing heavy bleeding.
Dube and Sithole arrived on the scene moments later and apprehended Ncube. Constable Makunde was treated at Plumtree District Hospital.
Ncube pleaded guilty to the assault but entered a not guilty plea on the other charge of poaching. He will be sentenced later on the assault charge, while his trial for illegal hunting will start on December 9.
Source - Chronicle
