Man knifed to death for spilling beer

TWO men allegedly fatally stabbed a 48-year-old man after he had accidentally spilled a glass of opaque beer at Manor Hotel in Bulawayo, a High Court judge heard.

Justice Andrew Mutema heard this at the appearance of Desire Ncube, 21, and Blessed Ngwenya, 20, who are being charged with the murder of Elton Moyo from Trenance.

Ncube admitted to stabbing Moyo on the chest using an Okapi knife, but told the court he acted in self defence as the elderly man and his colleague Papha Ndlovu were assaulting him with fists and booted feet.

Ncube's alleged accomplice Ngwenya has denied participating in the alleged stabbing on November 24, 2012 at the corner of Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue.

But the key witness in the crime, a security guard at a Chinese shop near the murder scene, Tendai Nyenya, who witnessed the altercation leading to the killing, told the court that Ngwenya held Moyo by the belt as Ncube stabbed him.

The two assailants allegedly fled from the scene as Nyenya advanced towards them and boarded a kombi that was going towards Cowdray Park.

Nyenya said he watched and listened for about 10 minutes as four men - Ncube and Ngwenya on one hand and Moyo and Ndlovu on the other, argued.

He tried to intervene when Ndlovu freed himself and escaped leaving Moyo at the mercy of the two accused persons who were now demanding money.

"Ngwenya was demanding money while holding Moyo by his belt. The two fled as I approached and the old man collapsed, that is when I noticed blood oozing from his chest and I called in an ambulance but he died before it could arrive," said Nyenya.

The four were drunk as they walked from the direction of Manor Hotel along Lobengula Street towards an illegal pick up point along 6th Avenue, the court heard.

In their defence, Ncube and Ngwenya said they caught up with Moyo and Ndlovu near TM Supermarket along the same street and the two picked up another argument with Moyo accusing him of being disrespectful.

This was after an exchange of words at the drinking spot when one of the old men bumped into Ncube and spilt his glass of beer and were restrained by hotel staff, Ncube told the judge.

Prosecutors, however, say Ncube deliberately bumped into the old man leading to an altercation.

Ngwenya claims that he fled after apologising on behalf of his friend Ncube but the two old men were not moved.

Ncube alleges the two pounced on him and started punching him as he lay on the ground.

The State counsel, Angeline Munyeriwa from the Prosecutor General's Office, queried how one could manage to punch somebody while lying on the ground.

Ncube claims he intended to stab Moyo on the arm but accidentally found the chest.

The two accused claimed they come from the same unnamed rural area and last saw each other when they were doing Grade Three and met for the first time at Manor Hotel on November 24, 2012, but this is being challenged by the State.

Ndlovu couldn't testify as his whereabouts are not known.

The pro deo defence team of Stephen Collier from Webb Low and Barry and Priviledge Mvundla from D W Mhiribidi and Company is basing its defence on identity, arguing Nyenya might have mistook the identity of Ncube and Ngwenya.

The trial continues.