News / Regional
Man pushes father, 75, to death
02 Jul 2014 at 06:33hrs | Views
AN attempt to intervene in a parents' dispute turned tragic for a 38-year-old Lupane man after he pushed his 75-year-old father to death.
Samuel Dube of Menyezwa area in Lupane pleaded not guilty to murder but was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema sitting on circuit in Hwange.
Justice Mutema with Elias Ndlovu and Elizabeth Chazanga as assessors sentenced Dube to seven years in prison and conditionally suspended two years for five years.
Prosecutor Whisper Mabaudhi told how on August 18 last year at around 8PM Dube's father Chambechambe Dube and his mother Annie, were embroiled in a bitter domestic dispute.
Dube who resides nearby proceeded to check on his parents to try and intervene in the matter.
This did not go down well with his ageing father, the court heard.
"Dube returned to his home but was followed by his father who strongly cautioned him not to intervene in his affairs. Agitated by the confrontation, he pushed his father who fell down and could not walk anymore," said Mabaudhi.
He said Dube rushed the old man to St Luke's Mission Hospital but his condition later deteriorated leading to his subsequent death on August 29.
It emerged during proceedings that Dube buried his father without a postmortem and was later arrested through an anonymous tip off to the police.
Justice Mutema said while Dube's motives were noble, it was taboo in African culture for a child to assault a parent no matter how wronged.
"You ignored the fact that a slight push or slap could easily result in complications for him. The scale tips in favour of aggravation as you tried to cover up the serious offence," said the judge.
"The court would have undeniably exercised leniency if you had come out clean to authorities on the cause of his death, which you initially said to be natural." Dube was represented by Thulani Nkala of Dube and Partners.
Samuel Dube of Menyezwa area in Lupane pleaded not guilty to murder but was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema sitting on circuit in Hwange.
Justice Mutema with Elias Ndlovu and Elizabeth Chazanga as assessors sentenced Dube to seven years in prison and conditionally suspended two years for five years.
Prosecutor Whisper Mabaudhi told how on August 18 last year at around 8PM Dube's father Chambechambe Dube and his mother Annie, were embroiled in a bitter domestic dispute.
Dube who resides nearby proceeded to check on his parents to try and intervene in the matter.
This did not go down well with his ageing father, the court heard.
"Dube returned to his home but was followed by his father who strongly cautioned him not to intervene in his affairs. Agitated by the confrontation, he pushed his father who fell down and could not walk anymore," said Mabaudhi.
He said Dube rushed the old man to St Luke's Mission Hospital but his condition later deteriorated leading to his subsequent death on August 29.
It emerged during proceedings that Dube buried his father without a postmortem and was later arrested through an anonymous tip off to the police.
Justice Mutema said while Dube's motives were noble, it was taboo in African culture for a child to assault a parent no matter how wronged.
"You ignored the fact that a slight push or slap could easily result in complications for him. The scale tips in favour of aggravation as you tried to cover up the serious offence," said the judge.
"The court would have undeniably exercised leniency if you had come out clean to authorities on the cause of his death, which you initially said to be natural." Dube was represented by Thulani Nkala of Dube and Partners.
Source - chronicle
