The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
A 62-year-old man from Lower Gweru who raped and killed his married lover before dumping her body in the bush was sentenced to life imprisonment after Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Nicholas Mathonsi spared him of hanging due to his age.
Jefrey Sithole of Mkoba Village under Chief Bunina in Lower Gweru appeared before Justice Mathonsi in Gweru facing murder last week.
He was convicted of murder with actual intent and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
In passing the sentence, Justice Mathonsi said the most suitable sentence for such a gruesome murder which was accompanied by rape was a death sentence but due to Sithole’s old age he gave him life imprisonment.
“We should respect the sanctity of human life. The murder was gruesome and was accompanied by rape. The most appropriate sentence for such an offence is a death sentence. However, considering the accused’s age I am sentencing you to life imprisonment,” he said.
The agreed facts were that on 30 June 2015 and at about 7pm, Sithole raped and murdered his married lover Beauty Ncube (54) by hitting her several times with a hoe handle on the head following a misunderstanding after a beer drink.
On the said date and time, Sithole was coming from a beer drink with Ncube and asked for a lift home from a fellow villager Mr Albert Moyo.
After Moyo dropped the two at Sithole’s gate, he started assaulting Ncube with a hoe handle. Sithole, the court heard, struck Ncube on the head and she started bleeding.
She sought refuge in Moyo’s car but Sithole threatened to assault Moyo if he tried to stop him.
While Moyo was trying to restrain Sithole, Ncube sneaked out of the car and ran towards the bush.
Sithole followed her and further assaulted her before raping her once.
Sithole then struck Ncube with the hoe handle several times on the head and face until she fell unconscious.
She died on the spot as a result of the assault. Sithole then dragged her body and hid it in the bush.
Ncube’s body was later discovered by a fellow villager Mr Joshua Nyamande two days later while he was moulding bricks. The matter was reported to the police leading to the Sithole’s arrest.
