The Sunday News
Thulani Ndlovu
A FAMILY getaway turned tragic when a man fatally slapped his cousin on the face following a dispute over their failure to get transport home after a night of partying.
Lovemore Makombe (34) of 1316 Mahatshula North will appear for murder at the High Court on Tuesday.
According to court documents, on 6 November 2014 Makombe was walking home along Harare road in the company of his cousin Fungai Mashera and his brother Foreman Feremba after a night of partying at Gijima Nite Club.
Makombe and Mashera started quarrelling over the issue of their failure to get transport home.
Makombe retaliated by slapping Mashera once with an open palm on his face resulting in the now deceased falling to the ground and hitting the back of his head on the road sustaining injuries.
The cousins proceeded home in peace but Mashera started complaining of a headache.
“On the following day the accused went to the local shop to buy headache pills for his now deceased cousin. However, the situation of Mashera worsened and he was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he was treated and discharged,” reads the State outline in part.
However, at around midnight Mashera’s condition further deteriorated and he was again transported to UBH where he was admitted.
He later succumbed to his injuries.
Feremba corroborated the State outline and is the main witness.
In his warned and cautioned statement, Makombe admitted to assaulting Mashera by slapping him but claimed he had no intention to cause his death.
He tendered a limited plea of guilt to culpable homicide which is the unlawful and negligent killing of a human being. Murder is the unlawful and intentional killing of a human being.
According to the post-mortem report conducted at UBH by Dr Sengesayi Pesanai, Mashera died of intracranial haemorrhage and skull fracture.
Makombe’s trial has been allocated a single day as there are no facts in dispute.
