Cop bashes colleague for trying to stop a fight

A POLICE officer from Bulawayo allegedly punched and head-butted a colleague for restraining a couple that was fighting near a city bar.

Pepukai Makwenjere (30) was left with a swollen nose after Mkhokheli Nyathi (28) allegedly attacked him.

Nyathi pleaded not guilty to assault before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove last Thursday.

Ms Mushove remanded the matter to January 3 for continuation of trial.

Nyathi said Makwenjere was the one who assaulted him.

"I bumped against Makwenjere by accident while I was coming out of Extreme bar and I apologised to him. He pulled me by my trousers and slapped me. I told him what he was doing was wrong since we worked together," Nyathi said.

Prosecuting, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said on August 28 around 1AM, Makwenjere was on  duty and on his way to the office at Southampton building when he came across a couple that was fighting at corner Jason Moyo Street and 9th Avenue.

"While he was trying to restrain the couple, he was approached by Nyathi who had been drinking at Extreme bar nearby. Nyathi approached Makwenjere and ordered him to let the couple continue fighting," he said.

"Makwenjere continued trying to separate the couple and Nyathi grabbed him by the collar and head butted him twice in the face. He punched him on the right ear and Makwenjere bled from the nose. His nose was left swollen."

The court heard that Nyathi was arrested by other police officers who were on duty at Southampton building.