Cop savages lover's face with a razor blade

A 26-YEAR-OLD man had his face carved with a razor blade allegedly by a police officer he claims to be in a relationship with after he entered her house and insisted on spending the night.

Tafadzwa Chapwanya told the court that he normally visited Ndakaziva Matchenyika, 29, at her house in George Silundika area but on that particular day she chased him away.

Chapwanya appeared before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing charges of entering Matchenyika's homestead without her consent.

Matchenyika denied being Chapwanya's girlfriend or cutting up his face.

Chapwanya told the court he had gone to his "girlfriend's" home to collect a jacket which he had left during a previous visit.

"My lover flew into a rage and attacked me with a razor blade on the face. I was forced to jump over the durawall (pre-cast wall) in order to save myself from further attack. The fuming police officer was guarding the gate ready to mutilate me further," he said.

Matchenyika insisted Chapwanya was making up the relationship, adding he was a nuisance in her neighbourhood and was constantly harassing her.

The magistrate did not believe the accused was injured in a lovers' tiff and found him guilty of trespassing.

He sentenced Chapwanya, who appeared in court with a heavily bandaged face, to nine months in prison. Three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within the period commit a similar offence.

In passing sentence, Ruvetsa said Chapwanya did not have the right to get into the complainant's yard without her consent..