Man goes berserk, stabs in-laws

A Binga man who went berserk and attacked his two brothers-in-law by stabbing them in the stomach and chest, seriously injuring them after calling them women, was on Friday slapped with an effective three-year sentence.

Charles Mudenda (31) from Sianoti 1 in Gaza village pleaded not guilty when he appeared before regional magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga, facing a charge of attempted murder.

According to State prosecutor Mr Tawanda Sigauke, on 6 April at around 11pm, Transfer Muchimba and seven of his friends were coming from a beer binge at Siachilaba Business Centre. They had reached Sianoti 1 kraal near Obert Sibelo's homestead when Mudenda caught up with them.

"The accused was carrying an Okapi knife but it was hidden from everyone's view. He then confronted Muchimba whom he accused of always causing trouble for his younger brothers. He called Muchimba and the others women. He charged towards Muchimba and stabbed him once in the stomach, exposing his intestines," said Mr Sigauke.

In a state of hysteria, Mudenda continued his attack on Muchimba shouting that he wanted to kill him. Fearing for his life, Muchimba ran away with Mudenda in hot pursuit but was stopped by Savious Mugande.

He suddenly turned on Mugande and stabbed him once on the right side of the chest with the knife he was still wielding. Mugande fell to the ground but quickly stood up and fled when Mudenda tried to attack him again. He sustained a deep cut on the right side of the chest.

The two were taken to Binga Hospital where they were admitted.

In his defence, Mudenda claimed that he attacked the two in self-defence after they provoked him over an unspecified issue.

"Your honour, I was simply trying to defend myself from my brothers-in-law who had teamed up to assault me for something I don't know. I was outnumbered and so used the knife to defend myself. I was provoked into acting that way," said Mudenda.

However, Mrs Malunga would have none of it, stating that Mudenda had gone beyond self-defence and that the State had proved beyond doubt that Mudenda had actually instigated the whole incident.

"You used a dangerous weapon, an Okapi which is a specified knife to stab the two. The medical report brought in by the State as evidence indicated the seriousness of the wound which showed that excessive force was used. In addition to that you were not remorseful throughout the trial but instead justified your actions, hence a custodial sentence cannot be avoided," she said, before sentencing him to an effective three years.