News / Regional
Passenger stabs kombi driver
13 May 2016 at 06:58hrs | Views
A MAN from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for stabbing a commuter omnibus driver with a pocket knife .
Phathisani Mafu, 22, stabbed Zibusiso Nhatarikwa, 26, of Nkulumane suburb, twice on the back and twice on his arms after being asked to pay the kombi fare.
Mafu turned violent when the kombi driver decided to drive to a police station to settle the matter following his refusal to pay the fare, a court heard.
Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso suspended six months from Mafu's initial 18 months sentence.
"Six months will be suspended for the next five years on the condition that you do not commit a similar offence. And you are going to serve an effective12 months in prison," said Chimiso.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on March 16 at around 6PM, Nhatarikwa was driving his kombi from the city centre to Nkulumane suburb.
"On the way, he picked up five passengers including Mafu. The conductor asked for the fare and Mafu refused to pay. When Mafu saw that driver was about to make a U-turn to a police station since they were near Mabutweni police base, the accused pulled the hand brake and the commuter omnibus stopped," said Mageza.
"He then grabbed the driver from behind and stabbed him twice on the back with his pocket knife. When the driver attempted to escape, he stabbed him once on the lower right arm and once on the upper arm."
The prosecutor said Mafu then escaped through the kombi window but was later arrested.
Phathisani Mafu, 22, stabbed Zibusiso Nhatarikwa, 26, of Nkulumane suburb, twice on the back and twice on his arms after being asked to pay the kombi fare.
Mafu turned violent when the kombi driver decided to drive to a police station to settle the matter following his refusal to pay the fare, a court heard.
Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso suspended six months from Mafu's initial 18 months sentence.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on March 16 at around 6PM, Nhatarikwa was driving his kombi from the city centre to Nkulumane suburb.
"On the way, he picked up five passengers including Mafu. The conductor asked for the fare and Mafu refused to pay. When Mafu saw that driver was about to make a U-turn to a police station since they were near Mabutweni police base, the accused pulled the hand brake and the commuter omnibus stopped," said Mageza.
"He then grabbed the driver from behind and stabbed him twice on the back with his pocket knife. When the driver attempted to escape, he stabbed him once on the lower right arm and once on the upper arm."
The prosecutor said Mafu then escaped through the kombi window but was later arrested.
Source - chronicle
