News / Local
Journalist 'basher' appears in court
13 Aug 2016 at 07:45hrs | Views
A PUMULA South man who allegedly attacked and robbed a Sunday News reporter on his way from work leaving him unconscious has appeared in court.
Handsome Zulu robbed Dumisani Nsingo of a Samsung cellphone, $30 and a paper bag with bread and chips.
Zulu pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge.
He told the court that he was given the cell phone by one Tinashe Siziba who asked him to sell it.
"I didn't steal the cell phone. Tinashe Siziba gave me the phone asking me to sell it on his behalf and I did so," said Zulu.
The court heard that Siziba was recently convicted of murder and is in jail.
Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Steven Ndhlovu remanded Zulu in custody to next week Thursday for trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Magret Takawira said Zulu attacked Nsingo on April 16 at around 10PM.
"The complainant disembarked from a taxi near Godlwayo Primary School.
The accused person appeared from the opposite direction and hit him with a stone on the head.
"He fell unconscious. Accused took his cell phone, wallet that contained cash and a national identity card," said Ms Takawira.
She said Nsingo regained consciousness and went to report the matter at Pumula police station.
"Police arrested one Xolani Dube who was found in possession of the stolen phone on June 19.
"When Dube was interviewed he told the police that he had bought the cellphone from Zulu leading to his arrest on August 11," she said.
In his statement to the police, Nsingo said he regained consciousness around 1am the next day and sought assistance at a house close by.
"The man I found at that house accompanied me to the police station. I fell unconscious again when I got there. I regained my consciousness at the hospital.
"The police called me on June 20 asking me to go to the station to identify my phone," reads the statement.
Handsome Zulu robbed Dumisani Nsingo of a Samsung cellphone, $30 and a paper bag with bread and chips.
Zulu pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge.
He told the court that he was given the cell phone by one Tinashe Siziba who asked him to sell it.
"I didn't steal the cell phone. Tinashe Siziba gave me the phone asking me to sell it on his behalf and I did so," said Zulu.
The court heard that Siziba was recently convicted of murder and is in jail.
Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Steven Ndhlovu remanded Zulu in custody to next week Thursday for trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Magret Takawira said Zulu attacked Nsingo on April 16 at around 10PM.
The accused person appeared from the opposite direction and hit him with a stone on the head.
"He fell unconscious. Accused took his cell phone, wallet that contained cash and a national identity card," said Ms Takawira.
She said Nsingo regained consciousness and went to report the matter at Pumula police station.
"Police arrested one Xolani Dube who was found in possession of the stolen phone on June 19.
"When Dube was interviewed he told the police that he had bought the cellphone from Zulu leading to his arrest on August 11," she said.
In his statement to the police, Nsingo said he regained consciousness around 1am the next day and sought assistance at a house close by.
"The man I found at that house accompanied me to the police station. I fell unconscious again when I got there. I regained my consciousness at the hospital.
"The police called me on June 20 asking me to go to the station to identify my phone," reads the statement.
Source - Chronicle
