White farmer sets dogs on villager for trespassing

A WHITE farmer from Mangwe allegedly set his dogs on a villager as punishment for walking through his farm.

Ernest Rosernfel, 89, allegedly set four dogs on Priviledge Ncube, 20, and they bit her on the buttocks, arm and leg.

Rosernfel, who owns Glenmore Farm, spotted the complainant walking through his farm on her way home in November last year, a Plumtree court heard.

Prosecutor Medica Tshuma told the court that the farmer set his dogs on Ncube as he had warned villagers against trespassing on his property, the Chronicle reported.

"When the complainant was about 100 metres from the accused person's homestead, she met him in the company of four dogs. The dogs started barking at the complainant and she pleaded with him to control his dogs but he refused saying that he had warned people not to pass through his farm without his authority.

"The dogs charged at her and started biting her. The complainant tried to hide behind the accused person but the dogs pursued her and she climbed onto a tree. She stayed there until the accused person and his dogs had left," he said.

Added Tshuma: "The complainant sustained injuries on her left leg, buttocks and right arm. She reported the matter to the police."

But Rosernfel told Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa that he tried to stop the attack. "Your Worship I was at my homestead when the complainant was attacked by my dogs. I was alerted by her screams and the noise of dogs barking. When I came out I found her being attacked by the dogs.

"I tried to calm the dogs but they continued to attack the complainant," he said.

Rosernfel was remanded out of custody to March 10.