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Lupane youth jailed 16 years for killing stepmother
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The High Court circuit sitting in Hwange has sentenced Sibongiseni Mpofu (22) to 16 years in prison for murdering his elderly stepmother in Lupane.
The court heard that on 17 May 2025 at the victim's homestead, Mpofu struck Christine Ncube (72) on the head with an axe before setting her on fire inside her kitchen hut.
Shortly after the attack, Mpofu phoned his brother and confessed. When witnesses arrived, they found the victim still alive but bleeding heavily and severely burnt. She later died in hospital a month after the attack.
During the trial, Mpofu claimed the incident stemmed from a verbal dispute after he failed to help the deceased take grain to a grinding mill. He alleged she uttered words suggesting he would continue living a life of suffering. He denied striking her with an axe, claiming she fell into the fire accidentally.
The court rejected his defence, stressing that violence against the elderly is a grave offence and that communities must protect vulnerable members.
The court heard that on 17 May 2025 at the victim's homestead, Mpofu struck Christine Ncube (72) on the head with an axe before setting her on fire inside her kitchen hut.
Shortly after the attack, Mpofu phoned his brother and confessed. When witnesses arrived, they found the victim still alive but bleeding heavily and severely burnt. She later died in hospital a month after the attack.
During the trial, Mpofu claimed the incident stemmed from a verbal dispute after he failed to help the deceased take grain to a grinding mill. He alleged she uttered words suggesting he would continue living a life of suffering. He denied striking her with an axe, claiming she fell into the fire accidentally.
The court rejected his defence, stressing that violence against the elderly is a grave offence and that communities must protect vulnerable members.
Source - Byo24News
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