Four Mbembesi villagers, including a juvenile, who teamed up to fatally assault a fellow villager who they accused of sexually abusing their dog have appeared in court facing a murder charge.
Mduduzi Ncube (36), Gerald Lunga (30, Nhlanhla Ncube (25) and a teenager whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ulekile Mlea-Ndlovu after Sifelani Nkomo (32) succumbed to injuries he sustained from the assault.
The magistrate remanded them in custody to November 5.
According to the State case, as presented by Nkathazo Dlodlo, the incident occurred on October 18 at Battlefield village 1 in Mbembesi.
“The accused persons unlawfully and intentionally caused the death of Nkomo by striking him several times all over the body using a hand axe, knobkerry and sticks. They dumped his body in a bushy area before they killed the dog too,” said Dlodlo.
“The accused persons went to fetch water at Morris Mine and proceeded to Nkomo’s village intending to return an axe which they borrowed. One of them allegedly peeped through the kitchen hut window and saw Nkomo in a compromising position with the dog. He called his accomplices to witness what was happening.”
Dlodlo said when the dog owner arrived, they ordered Nkomo to repeat what he was doing.
“The accused persons started assaulting Nkomo all over the body and dragged him to a bushy area about a kilometre from his homestead. He became unconscious from the assault and the accused persons dumped him there and also killed the dog,” he said.
Dlodlo said Nkomo’s body was discovered the following morning with a cut on the forehead, several bruises and he had bled from the mouth.
