Man stabbed over a cigarette

Three Shurugwi men recently attacked a neighbour with stones, a log and a brick before stabbing him with a knife for refusing to give one of them a cigarette.

The complainant, Mr Solani Magadzire, as a result suffered a dislocated left jaw and a deep cut on the upper lip as a result of the assault.

One of the assailants, Douglas Mahopa (26), of stand Number 4 Falls Village, Shurugwi, has since been sentenced to two years imprisonment for the offence while his other two accomplices are still at large.

Makopa who was convicted on his own plea by Gweru magistrate, Ms Rutendo Muchena, will however serve an effective one-and-a-half years in prison after six months of his sentence were conditionally suspended.

The State's case as presented by Miss Nomanguni Mabasa is that on Christmas Day at about 7pm, Makopa, who is a neighbour to the complainant, asked for a cigarette from the complaint.

She said Makopa was in the company of Tafara Makopa and Tawanda Mano, who are both still at large. The court heard that Mr Magadzire refused to give Makopa the cigarette.

Miss Mabasa said Makopa became angry, picked up a log and hit the complaint on the head. His two accomplices picked up stones and hit the complainant in the mouth.

Miss Mabasa said Makopa stabbed the complainant with a knife resulting in Mr Magadzire sustaining a deep cut on the upper lip. The court heard that Tafara Makopa also hit the complainant with a brick and he suffered a dislocated jaw and lost a tooth.