News / National
Matches row stabbing man jailed for 10 years
21 Jul 2017 at 08:41hrs | Views
A 23-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who went berserk and stabbed five people, leaving one with an eye protruding, before robbing two of them in 30 minutes has been jailed for 10 years.
Menelisi Msipa had to be saved after a mob meted instant justice on him after he was caught just after committing the crimes.
Passing his sentence, regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza said Msipa was a married first offender whose crimes deserved a lengthy sentence.
"In coming up with your sentence the court considered that you are a first time offender who is a also a breadwinner in his family. The accused said he committed a series of his crimes due to provocation. It must be considered that one of the complainants lost his eye during the commencement of the crimes and he will forever need aid to do normal duties," said Mabeza.
"For the first count, he is sentenced to six months imprisonment. For the second count of attempted murder, he will serve five years in prison."
He said for the third count where he robbed a Bulawayo man of a Samsung S7 phone Msipa will serve six months in prison.
Mabeza added: "For count four and five Msipa is sentenced to four years each though the sentence will run concurrently. Of the total sentence four years were wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour."
The State led by Tinashe Dzipe said Msipa attacked two people in Makokoba suburb and three at Engen Garage along Luveve Road in Bulawayo.
Dzipe told the court that all the attacks took place on February 11 at around 9pm.
"Msipa approached Tichaona Masiriri of Mzilikazi suburb who was proceeding to Mzilikazi from Makokoba. Msipa asked for matches and Masiriri said he didn't have it. Msipa produced an Okapi knife and stabbed Masiriri on the upper lip once. He then robbed Masiriri of a cellphone and $7," said Dzipe.
Simbarashe Sibanda who was walking in the same direction saw Msipa attacking Masiriri and he went over to assist Masiriri.
Msipa pounced on him and stabbed him above his left eye, leaving the eye protruding, the court heard.
Dzipe said Sibanda screamed in pain and attracted the attention of one Baret Sibanda who was passing by.
"Baret drew closer to see what was happening. He held Sibanda trying to help. Msipa attacked him too. He stabbed him once on the head and left hand before fleeing from the scene," he said.
Dzipe said minutes later Msipa approached Rashid Polongani of Lobengula suburb who was waiting for transport at Engen Garage. He accused him of stealing from him.
Msipa allegedly drew his Okapi knife and stabbed Polongani once on the back. He allegedly robbed him of a Samsung S7 and $60.
The court heard that Polongani screamed for help and Maphios Hama who was close, waiting for transport to Cowdray Park ran to his rescue. Msipa stabbed him once on the back too.
Dzipe said Hama and Sibanda are admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) respectively.
According to the State, both are in a critical condition and their medical reports are still outstanding.
Menelisi Msipa had to be saved after a mob meted instant justice on him after he was caught just after committing the crimes.
Passing his sentence, regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza said Msipa was a married first offender whose crimes deserved a lengthy sentence.
"In coming up with your sentence the court considered that you are a first time offender who is a also a breadwinner in his family. The accused said he committed a series of his crimes due to provocation. It must be considered that one of the complainants lost his eye during the commencement of the crimes and he will forever need aid to do normal duties," said Mabeza.
"For the first count, he is sentenced to six months imprisonment. For the second count of attempted murder, he will serve five years in prison."
He said for the third count where he robbed a Bulawayo man of a Samsung S7 phone Msipa will serve six months in prison.
Mabeza added: "For count four and five Msipa is sentenced to four years each though the sentence will run concurrently. Of the total sentence four years were wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour."
The State led by Tinashe Dzipe said Msipa attacked two people in Makokoba suburb and three at Engen Garage along Luveve Road in Bulawayo.
Dzipe told the court that all the attacks took place on February 11 at around 9pm.
"Msipa approached Tichaona Masiriri of Mzilikazi suburb who was proceeding to Mzilikazi from Makokoba. Msipa asked for matches and Masiriri said he didn't have it. Msipa produced an Okapi knife and stabbed Masiriri on the upper lip once. He then robbed Masiriri of a cellphone and $7," said Dzipe.
Simbarashe Sibanda who was walking in the same direction saw Msipa attacking Masiriri and he went over to assist Masiriri.
Msipa pounced on him and stabbed him above his left eye, leaving the eye protruding, the court heard.
Dzipe said Sibanda screamed in pain and attracted the attention of one Baret Sibanda who was passing by.
"Baret drew closer to see what was happening. He held Sibanda trying to help. Msipa attacked him too. He stabbed him once on the head and left hand before fleeing from the scene," he said.
Dzipe said minutes later Msipa approached Rashid Polongani of Lobengula suburb who was waiting for transport at Engen Garage. He accused him of stealing from him.
Msipa allegedly drew his Okapi knife and stabbed Polongani once on the back. He allegedly robbed him of a Samsung S7 and $60.
The court heard that Polongani screamed for help and Maphios Hama who was close, waiting for transport to Cowdray Park ran to his rescue. Msipa stabbed him once on the back too.
Dzipe said Hama and Sibanda are admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) respectively.
According to the State, both are in a critical condition and their medical reports are still outstanding.
Source - bmetro
