News / National
Soldier bashing pastor in court
20 Jul 2016 at 06:53hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO pastor who was part of a mob that attacked a soldier for allegedly proposing love to his neighbour escaped jail after he was sentenced to perform 210 hours of community service while his accomplice was jailed for four years.
Nhlanhla Dube (39), a pastor at an unidentified Pentecostal church, teamed up with Aaron Sibanda (21) and attacked the complainant until he passed out. The two were allegedly part of a mob.
Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira convicted Dube of a lesser charge of assault and sentenced him to eight months in jail.
Two months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence, while the remaining six months were suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Nkanyezi Primary School in Magwegwe suburb.
The magistrate convicted Sibanda of attempted murder and sentenced him to six years in jail. Sibanda will serve an effective four years in jail after two years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.
Prosecuting, Mr Tinashe Dzipe said on November 13 last year at around 7PM, the complainant, who is a soldier, was walking in Lobengula West suburb in the company of his sister Grace Ngwenya when they spotted their neighbour, Rachael Dlomo. He said the complainant approached Dlomo and proposed love to her but she rejected him resulting in a misunderstanding.
The dispute attracted the attention of Dlomo's mother who stormed out of her house carrying a cooking stick intending to strike the complainant.
"In the heat of the moment, Dube appeared and started attacking the complainant. Sibanda later joined in the fight and struck the complainant with a brick on head and he fell down," said Mr Dzipe.
Sibanda stamped on the complainant as he lay helplessly on the ground until he lost consciousness.
Nhlanhla Dube (39), a pastor at an unidentified Pentecostal church, teamed up with Aaron Sibanda (21) and attacked the complainant until he passed out. The two were allegedly part of a mob.
Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira convicted Dube of a lesser charge of assault and sentenced him to eight months in jail.
Two months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence, while the remaining six months were suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Nkanyezi Primary School in Magwegwe suburb.
The magistrate convicted Sibanda of attempted murder and sentenced him to six years in jail. Sibanda will serve an effective four years in jail after two years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.
Prosecuting, Mr Tinashe Dzipe said on November 13 last year at around 7PM, the complainant, who is a soldier, was walking in Lobengula West suburb in the company of his sister Grace Ngwenya when they spotted their neighbour, Rachael Dlomo. He said the complainant approached Dlomo and proposed love to her but she rejected him resulting in a misunderstanding.
The dispute attracted the attention of Dlomo's mother who stormed out of her house carrying a cooking stick intending to strike the complainant.
"In the heat of the moment, Dube appeared and started attacking the complainant. Sibanda later joined in the fight and struck the complainant with a brick on head and he fell down," said Mr Dzipe.
Sibanda stamped on the complainant as he lay helplessly on the ground until he lost consciousness.
Source - chronicle
