News / Regional
Man assaults wife with iron bar
11 Aug 2015 at 07:04hrs | Views
A GWERU magistrate on Friday sentenced to 18 years in prison a Shurugwi man who assaulted his estranged wife with an iron bar all over the body and left her for dead after she demanded a divorce.
Oneti Musana, 22, of Chironde Village, under Chief Nhema in Shurugwi, also destroyed furniture belonging to his estranged wife, Portia Zvidzai.
Regional Magistrate, Morgan Nemadire, convicted Musana on his own plea of guilty to one count of attempted murder and one count of malicious damage to property and sentenced him to 18 years in prison.
Musana will, however, serve 15 years in prison after three years of his sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Nemadire said Musana's attack on Zvidzai was not justified and should be condemned.
"Your attack was simply brutal and barbaric to say the least. You caused serious injuries on the victim for no apparent reason at all. You should learn to respect people's private lives. You had no right to invade her sleeping room or to destroy her property in the room," said Nemadire.
The magistrate said he was also suspending the three years from his sentence after considering that Musana had a wife and a newly born baby.
"I've also taken both counts as one for purposes of sentencing and I hereby sentence you to 18 years in prison. Three years are suspended for five years on condition that you don't commit a similar offence," said Nemadire.
Prosecuting, Emmanuel Matosi told the court that on July 12, 2013, at around 11PM, Musana went to Zvidzai's bedroom hut at Gretina Mine, Range Farm 2 in Lower Gweru. He said Musana wanted to solve their outstanding disputes amicably.
The court heard that Musana and Zvidzai were customarily married before their separation.
"On the day in question, Musana went to Zvidzai's hut but she refused to discuss any issue with him and that angered him. Musana entered her room armed with an iron bar and struck her twice on the head and all over the body before she collapsed on the floor," said Matosi.
He said Musana then smashed Zvidzai's television set, DVD player and one speaker using the same iron bar.
Matosi told the court that Zvidzai managed to crawl out of the room and went to her neighbours who took her to hospital.
The matter was then reported to the police leading to the arrest of Musana.
Oneti Musana, 22, of Chironde Village, under Chief Nhema in Shurugwi, also destroyed furniture belonging to his estranged wife, Portia Zvidzai.
Regional Magistrate, Morgan Nemadire, convicted Musana on his own plea of guilty to one count of attempted murder and one count of malicious damage to property and sentenced him to 18 years in prison.
Musana will, however, serve 15 years in prison after three years of his sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In passing sentence, Nemadire said Musana's attack on Zvidzai was not justified and should be condemned.
"Your attack was simply brutal and barbaric to say the least. You caused serious injuries on the victim for no apparent reason at all. You should learn to respect people's private lives. You had no right to invade her sleeping room or to destroy her property in the room," said Nemadire.
The magistrate said he was also suspending the three years from his sentence after considering that Musana had a wife and a newly born baby.
Prosecuting, Emmanuel Matosi told the court that on July 12, 2013, at around 11PM, Musana went to Zvidzai's bedroom hut at Gretina Mine, Range Farm 2 in Lower Gweru. He said Musana wanted to solve their outstanding disputes amicably.
The court heard that Musana and Zvidzai were customarily married before their separation.
"On the day in question, Musana went to Zvidzai's hut but she refused to discuss any issue with him and that angered him. Musana entered her room armed with an iron bar and struck her twice on the head and all over the body before she collapsed on the floor," said Matosi.
He said Musana then smashed Zvidzai's television set, DVD player and one speaker using the same iron bar.
Matosi told the court that Zvidzai managed to crawl out of the room and went to her neighbours who took her to hospital.
The matter was then reported to the police leading to the arrest of Musana.
Source - chronicle
