By Staff writer
TWO men from Silobela escaped jail sentences after the High Court acquitted them of murder charges.
The two, Mayibongwe Maphosa (24) and Romeo Sezydekurire (31) of Mbizo village and village 5, under Chief Sigodo, Silobela were cleared of the murder charges at the High Court sitting in Gweru recently.
According to the State outline, on 13 September 2024 the now deceased Qalisani Tshuma travelled in a white Iveco combi.
Maphosa and Sezydekurire were part of the combi crew.
Upon arrival at Tshuma’s place a misunderstanding arose and escalated into a fight between Maphosa and Tshuma.
The State further alleges that Sezydekurire struck Tshuma with a shovel resulting in Tshuma falling down.
When he got up, Maphosa allegedly stabbed him with a knife, the two assailants are said to have fled the scene.
Tshuma later succumbed to injuries sustained during the fight.
However, during the trial, evidence revealed that Tshuma was the initial aggresor.
Witnesses who testified in court revealed that Tshuma produced a knife and stabbed Maphosa on the thigh.
The court ruled that Maphosa acted in self defense and that Sezydekurire did not attack the deceased.
