BCC convicted of culpable homicide

THE Bulawayo City Council was yesterday convicted of negligence after a pupil was electrocuted at a tower light while playing football. The local authority is in charge of public lighting.

Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove found council guilty of culpable homicide and blamed it for the death of Shepherd Mpala, 17, of Magwegwe North suburb.

Ms Mushove remanded the matter to today for sentence.

In its defence, the local authority, represented by Coghlan and Welsh, said the late Mpala tampered with a secure cable leading to his electrocution.

"The deceased's swinging on the cable may have caused his own demise. We never saw it coming and will not be liable for it. His actions, which led to the death, were free and voluntary and there is no factual or legal causation to warrant the charges," read the defence outline.

In a statement, Mpala's cousin said they were watching soccer at Induba grounds with Mpala as their team had been knocked out.

"He was standing near the tower light and after sometime, I heard him calling my name for help as his hand was stuck to the electric cable. I tried helping him and I was also electrically shocked," he said.

"One of the guys managed to kick his hand off the cable. When the ambulance came, he had died."

Prosecuting, Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa said on December 5 in 2013, the city council caused the death of Mpala by leaving an armoured cable unearthed thereby causing danger to members of the public.