Cattle minder stabs friend for having sex with his girlfriend

A 19-YEAR-OLD Bulilima cattle minder stabbed his 17-year-old friend after he caught him having sex with his juvenile girlfriend.

Macklin Bhebhe of Bhagani Village walked in on his 14-year-old girlfiriend having sex with his 17-year-old friend.

An enraged Bhebhe drew an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed his friend on the stomach.

The Sunday News reported that Bhebhe, who pleaded to be spared a jail sentence, said: "Your Worship I loved my girlfriend very much and I was greatly disappointed when I found my friend having sex with her. My anger got worse when my girlfriend confessed that she was in love with both of us at the same time."

Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa slapped him with a 24-month jail sentence. Six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of the same nature.

Bhebhe initially appeared in court facing charges of attempted murder. The charges were later reduced to assault after the court established that the injuries sustained by the complainant were not life threatening.

"On 7 January around 10pm Bhebhe arrived at a girlfriend's home to visit her. He found her sleeping with his friend and this did not go down well with him. He retrieved an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed his friend on the stomach," the prosecutor, Mr Medica Tshuma, said.

In his statement in court the 17-year-old victim said: "I was in bed with my girlfriend when someone forced the door open. He switched on the light and that is when I realised that it was my friend.

"He switched off the light and he stabbed me on the stomach and disappeared into the night. I did not know that he was still in love with my girlfriend as she told me that they had separated."