Jilted Lower Gweru man jailed for attempting to kill ‘fed up’ girlfriend
By Dumisani Ndlovu
France Ndlovu from Malaga village under Chief Sogwala in Lower Gweru, will spend seven years in prison after he was convicted of attempted murder of her girlfriend Florance Ncube who hail from the same village.
This came after Regional Court, Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Friday (16 February 2023) gave the sentence after being found guilty of attempted murder believed to be committed in aggravating circumstances.
The Public Prosecutor, Eggrina Matutu told the court that the complainant and the accused person’s love relationship turned sour and nasty on the 15th of December 2023 when Florance jilted Ndlovu.
“On the 13th of December 2023, at around 0000 hrs and at Mlaga village Chief Sogwala, the accused person visited the complainant’s house as usual. The complainant told the accused that she was no longer interested with their relationship and had decided to end it and move on,” Prosecutor Matutu told the court.
The Public Prosecutor, Matutu added that having failed to contain the rejection, Ndlovu went out and came back armed with an axe and knife, struck the complainant once on the forehead and once on the upper left eye and fell down and became unconscious.
As if that was not enough, the Public Prosecutor, Matutu further informed the court that whilst on the ground the accused person stabbed the complainant once on the left shin and once on the right shin with a knife and also used an unknown object to hit her several times on the body.
“The complainant suffered a deep cut on the forehead a cut on the left eye and stab wound on the left and right shin. The complainant was referred to Gweru Provincial Hospital where she was medically examined,” said Prosecutor Matutu,”while producing a medical report as evidence.
In his ruling, Regional Magistrate Mugwagwa said Ndlovu was found guilty of attempted murder with actual intent as defined in Section 189 ARW Section 47 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.
Although the accused had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court made a finding that the attempted murder appeared to have been premeditated.
“In order to show you that this court respect life, and to send a word to the public out there, you are found guilty of attempted murder and I sentence you to 8 years in prison. One year suspended on condition that you do not commit similar crime in the next five years. Step down! ,” said Magistrate Mugwagwa, replacing a smile with a tough expression.
