Businessman attempts to kill neighbour

A businessman and his two brothers recently appeared before Chipinge magistrate Bill Chineka on charges of attempted murder of a neighbour at one of his businesses at Gunura Township.

Sidney (34), Moses (30) and Charles Majaheni (30) pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming they, in fact, were the victims of Hardlife Mupinda's alleged violent behavior as he was drunk on the day.

Represented their lawyer Leopold Mudisi, the trio argued that the complainant went to a shop owned by Charles and caused violence to protest the expulsion of his friend Obrien Dhliwayo from a party.

"Obrien was very drunk and uncontrollable such that the accused persons had to chase him away. He then hired Mupinda and others who came and assaulted Moses and injured him on his upper lip.

"The crowd then joined in support of the accused persons and attacked Mupinda who sustained serious injuries. Charles was not on the scene but he was only implicated because he is merely a brother to the two accused," said Mudisi.

Magistrate Chineka adjourned the case to 04 April for continuation of trial.

It is State's case that in Gunura village under Chief Chamutsa, people were gathered at one of Charles' shops enjoying Christmas leftovers.

Mupinda arrived and dropped off someone who had accompanied him from Birchenough Bridge and parked his vehicle for a chat with his friend Caleb Mwaranzika who happens to be an in-law to the accused.

The accused then arrived and attacked Mupinda, accusing him of dropping off people to attack them on behalf of Dhliwayo.

Sidney started assaulting Mupinda with clenched fists and Moses hit Mupinda on his head with a stone.

Charles later showed up at the scene with a hammer that he used to hit Mupinda both on his head and on shoulders and he fell unconscious only to wake up later in Mwarazika's vehicle on his way to the police station.

He later sought treatment at Birchenough Bridge Hospital.