Police officer loses nose to 'madman'

IT will be long before a Bulawayo police officer can continue sniffing out crime after he lost his nose during an arrest. Welcome Dube, a policeman based at Bulawayo Central Police Station, lost part of his nose after being bitten by a violent suspect who was resisting arrest.

The suspect, Joseph Sibanda, who is of no fixed abode and is suspected to be mentally ill, appeared before magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze facing two counts of assault.

He was remanded in custody to 10 April.

Mrs Msipa-Marondedze ordered Sibanda to be examined by two psychiatrists before appearing in court.

Circumstances surrounding the case are that on 24 March at around 9am, Sibanda met Laura Joy, a primary schoolteacher at Biljoint shop along 15th Avenue.

Sibanda is reported to have assaulted Joy with an iron bar twice on her breasts before punching her.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo told the court that Joy was rescued by Ephraim Ndlovu, a shop assistant, but did not sustain any serious injuries.

According to the State, Dube, was assigned to go and attend to the scene and arrest Sibanda.

Upon arrival at the scene, it is alleged that Sibanda got violent and assaulted Dube with fists and open hands before biting off his nose. This was after Dube had tried to handcuff him.

Dube sustained serious injuries and was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals for medical attention.

Sibanda was eventually arrested at the scene and was detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station.