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A Beitbridge man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for brutally murdering a colleague, who attempted to mediate a dispute involving him and another individual over an undisclosed issue.
Benson Ndlovu was convicted of murdering Tapiwa Mupfukireyi by High Court Judge Naison Chivayo.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty due to overwhelming evidence incriminating him.
Passing the verdict, Justice Chivayo under scored the gravity of taking a life, and stressed the responsibility of the courts to send a strong message against violent behaviour.
“Violent conduct will not be tolerated,” he emphasised.
The case revolved around an incident in which Ndlovu had a misunderstanding with Langton Ncube after Ndlovu’s friend, Benson Nyamutowa, had kicked wood at a fireplace.
A key witness, Ellen Geja, testified that the deceased, Mupfukireyi, had stepped in to mediate in the dispute between Ndlovu and another individual.
“The deceased tried to restrain the accused from insulting Ncube, but that did not go down well with the accused, who slapped the deceased once on the cheek with an open hand,” Geja said.
The court heard that on July 30, 2021, around 11PM, Ndlovu arrived at a house in Beitbridge’s Garikai suburb with his friend, Benson Nyamutowa.
In the heat of the altercation, Ndlovu picked up two cement bricks and struck Mupfukireyi on the forehead with one of them, causing him to collapse and become unconscious.
The incident was reported to the police, and the victim was rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital. Tragically, Mupfukireyi succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. – New Ziana.
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