Teacher in court for girlfriend's murder

A TEACHER from Tsholotsho who allegedly brutally beat up his live-in girlfriend for three days resulting in her death, has appeared in court facing a murder charge. Obert Ncube, 43, from Bemba primary school, allegedly assaulted Sarudzai Mutuma leading to her death after he suspected she was having an affair.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Tsholotsho magistrate Victor Mpofu last Friday. "It wasn't my intention to kill her. I beat her up and we went to bed. To my surprise she wasn't breathing in the morning," Ncube told the court during his brief appearance.

Mpofu remanded him in custody to November 4. The state opposed bail on grounds that Ncube was a flight risk since he had been on the run.

Prosecuting, Sharon Phiri said on Friday last week in their room at Bemba primary school, Ncube assaulted Mutuma.

"He locked her inside their room and sjamboked her for a long period of time after suspecting that she was having an affair," Phiri said.

The court heard that Ncube would take breaks between the assaults and return to intensify the beatings.

"On Sunday at around 9PM, he took her outside and allegedly assaulted her to the extent that she couldn't walk. He dragged her back into the room and they retired to bed.

"The next morning he phoned a teacher next door claiming that Mutuma wanted to see her," said Phiri.

She told the court that the teacher whose name was not given, found the door locked and suspected foul play.

"She alerted other teachers who had to break the door to gain entry. They found Mutuma dead," the prosecutor said.

Neighbours reported the murder to the police.

Ncube was arrested 12 hours later.