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Neighbourhood watch trio assault man to death
2 hrs ago |
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Three members of a neighbourhood watch committee from Tsholotsho District have appeared in court facing murder charges after a man they allegedly assaulted while responding to an attack on a visually impaired woman later died.
Dickson Zondo (52), Manqoba Masuku (53) and Johannes Dube (58), all of Gulalikabili in Matabeleland North Province, appeared before Maxwell Ncube at the Tsholotsho Magistrates' Court.
The three were not asked to plead and only confirmed the charges against them. They were advised of their right to apply for bail at the High Court in Bulawayo and to seek legal representation.
They were remanded in custody until June 15.
Prosecutor Nobuhle Mguni told the court that on May 30 at around 9pm, the accused and other villagers responded to screams coming from the homestead of 58-year-old Sithabile Ncube, a visually impaired resident.
According to the State, Ncube's son alerted villagers that a man identified as Philani Tshuma, allegedly armed with a knife and a shovel, was threatening to kill his mother.
The court heard that the accused rushed to the homestead and allegedly found Tshuma dragging Ncube after tearing her skirt and underwear.
"Tshuma, who was armed, became violent towards them and attempted to strike the accused persons with the shovel as he resisted arrest," Mguni told the court.
Prosecutors allege that the three men took turns assaulting Tshuma before eventually managing to restrain and handcuff him. However, he reportedly escaped and fled from the scene.
The accused allegedly tracked his footprints and later found him lying beside a road leading to Gulalikabili Business Centre. After noticing that his condition had worsened, they arranged transport to take him to Tsholotsho District Hospital.
Tshuma, however, died while being transported to the hospital.
Police subsequently arrested the three men, who now face murder charges arising from the incident.
The matter remains under investigation, and the accused are yet to enter formal pleas.
Dickson Zondo (52), Manqoba Masuku (53) and Johannes Dube (58), all of Gulalikabili in Matabeleland North Province, appeared before Maxwell Ncube at the Tsholotsho Magistrates' Court.
The three were not asked to plead and only confirmed the charges against them. They were advised of their right to apply for bail at the High Court in Bulawayo and to seek legal representation.
They were remanded in custody until June 15.
Prosecutor Nobuhle Mguni told the court that on May 30 at around 9pm, the accused and other villagers responded to screams coming from the homestead of 58-year-old Sithabile Ncube, a visually impaired resident.
According to the State, Ncube's son alerted villagers that a man identified as Philani Tshuma, allegedly armed with a knife and a shovel, was threatening to kill his mother.
"Tshuma, who was armed, became violent towards them and attempted to strike the accused persons with the shovel as he resisted arrest," Mguni told the court.
Prosecutors allege that the three men took turns assaulting Tshuma before eventually managing to restrain and handcuff him. However, he reportedly escaped and fled from the scene.
The accused allegedly tracked his footprints and later found him lying beside a road leading to Gulalikabili Business Centre. After noticing that his condition had worsened, they arranged transport to take him to Tsholotsho District Hospital.
Tshuma, however, died while being transported to the hospital.
Police subsequently arrested the three men, who now face murder charges arising from the incident.
The matter remains under investigation, and the accused are yet to enter formal pleas.
Source - The Chronicle
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