Lupane man (32) who axed a defenceless old man causing multiple lacerations, a fractured skull, 6 lost teeth and swelling and burnt him, jailed 7yrs

A MAN from Lupane who visited a neighbour’s home and took some beer, drank it without the owner’s consent before assaulting him when he complained has been slapped with an effective five-year jail term for attempted murder.

Mehluli Ndlovu (32) pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga on Thursday last week. The magistrate convicted and sentenced him to seven years in jail. Two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

In sentencing him the magistrate said Ndlovu attacked a defenceless old man Stanley Mathema whose age was not disclosed in the court papers.

“You entered the man’s home, drank his beer without permission, went on to assault him in the head using a blunt object which left him with multiple lacerations, a fracture of the scull, loss of six teeth and a swollen body,” Malunga ruled.

He said as if that was not enough, Ndlovu took a burning log and burnt him on the left hand before dropping the burning log on his stomach.

Mathema told the court that he was detained at Mpilo Central Hospital for over a month, and now suffers from constant pain as a result of the attack.

He said he lost six teeth hence he is no longer handsome and Ndlovu never made an effort to assist him after the attack.

Prosecutor Bheki Tshabalala told the court that on July 28 2015 at 11pm Mathema was at his home drinking beer with Themba Nkomo when Ndlovu arrived and took his beer and drank it.

Mathema questioned him why he was doing that but Ndlovu ran amok attacking him on the forehead with an axe before further assaulting him on the back of the head and cheek with a blunt object.

He further burnt him with a burning log on the hand and left it on his stomach.

He was taken to St Lukes Hospital before being transferred to Mpilo Hospital for treatment. A report made to the police led to Ndlovu’s arrest.

By Silas Nkala. source-newsday