Man assaults, attempts to hang father (93)

A 63-YEAR-OLD Mangwe man is set to face the full wrath of the law for assaulting his 93-year-old father after two doctors confirmed him mentally stable following an order by the court to have him examined.

Gerald Ndlovu of Bulilima District, tied a rope around his father's neck and dragged him into a house in protest over food.

He then threatened to hang his father, Bernard Ndlovu, causing him to faint.

Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philimoni recently ordered the accused person to be examined by two doctors to ascertain his mental state in terms of the Mental Health Act.

This was after Ndlovu, who pretended to be mentally unstable, made incoherent statements in court.

The court learnt that upon being examined, two doctors confirmed him to be mentally stable.

Ndlovu is expected to appear in court on 17 March for trial.

He was remanded in custody.

The court heard that the accused person got angry at his father after he gave him a small portion of food on Christmas Day.

Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya narrated how Ndlovu terrorised his father.

"The complainant arrived home from church on 25 December last year. He dished food for himself and the accused person who went on to complain that the food was not enough. The accused person took a rope which he tied onto his father's neck and he pulled him around. He then force marched him to his bedroom and threatened to kill him.

"The accused person attempted to hang the complainant but he discovered that there was nowhere to tie the rope on the ceiling and he released him leaving him lying unconscious on his bed," Mr Chiyanganya said.

The complainant reported the matter to the police leading to the accused person's arrest.