The Sunday News
Sibonginkosi Mpofu, Sunday News Reporter
A 32-year-old man from Waterford suburb in Bulawayo who severely assaulted his girlfriend who is 11 years older than him and dragged her from the sixth to the ground floor of a flat, after a misunderstanding over a late night call, has been sentenced to perform community service.
Simbarashe Dunira was sentenced to performing 350 hours of community service, for savagely assaulting and putting his girlfriend, Ms Sifikile Mpoli’s (43) life in danger at her place of residence at Warnborough Mansions in the Central Business District.
Dunira was convicted by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lesego Ngwenya for physical abuse last week and was sentenced to perform community service at Waterford Pre-School.
He was initially slapped with a 12-month prison term, of which two months were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence during that period.
Presenting the State’s case, Mr Leonard Chile told the court that Dunira was in a relationship with Ms Mpoli.
“On 21 April 2019 and at around 3am, a misunderstanding arose between Dunira and Mpoli over a phone call received by the complainant. Dunira confronted and blamed Sifikile of cheating on him,” said Mr Chile.
The court heard that Dunira assaulted Ms Mpoli with fists and open hands all over her body, before dragging her from the sixth floor to the ground floor.
According to a medical report presented in court, Ms Mpoli sustained life threatening injuries and was advised to seek medical treatment, as she was likely to suffer from intracranial bleeding and convulsive seizures disorder.
