Pupil stabs classmate

BULLYING and taunting a classmate almost ended in tragedy after a Form three pupil at Sontala Secondary School in Kezi lost his temper and stabbed a fellow pupil  for likening his feet to a wheelbarrow.

The teenager (17) appeared before Kezi resident magistrate Mr Jimmy Ntonga for assault as defined in Section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

The accused and the complainant, who are in the same class, on 6 March had a misunderstanding after the latter likened the accused's feet to a wheelbarrow.

This did not go down well with the accused who on 7 March came to school armed with an Okapi knife, a dangerous and proscribed knife.

On the fateful day, the accused knocked off from school and approached the complainant and assaulted him. Sensing danger, the complainant fled the scene and the accused gave chase until he caught up with him. He stabbed the complainant once on the right buttock and leg before fleeing the scene of the incident.

The matter was reported to school authorities who in turn informed the police leading to the arrest of the accused.

In his defence, the teenager told the magistrate that the complainant mocked him by likening his feet to a wheelbarrow and this angered him to the extent that he could not control his emotions.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison which were wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not within the next five years commit any crime.
Mr Shamiso Ncube prosecuted.