The Sunday News
Mashudu Mambo, Sunday News Reporter
AN 18-year-old man from Madlambuzi in Bulilima sustained serious injuries after he was stabbed by his friend several times on his back, face and arm after he refused to buy him beer at a local business centre.
The accused, Mlungisi Dube (18) is said to have demanded that Mr Kadefunwa Sebele buy him beer when they met at Masendu Business Centre in October this year.
Mr Sebele refused giving an excuse that he had no money and on leaving the business centre, an enraged Dube stalked his friend and allegedly stabbed him with an Okapi knife.
Dube pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.
Mrs Msipa-Marondedze remanded him in custody to Tuesday after Dube said he wanted a lawyer to represent him.
Prosecuting, Mr Tinashe Dzipe said Dube met Mr Sebele on 21 October at around 7pm and demanded beer from him.
He said Mr Sebele refused to buy him beer and that angered Dube who stalked his friend for about 200 metres.
Mr Dzipe said Dube allegedly punched Mr Sebele. The two then fought and Dube was defeated.
“A few moments later, Dube followed his friend again and without saying a word stabbed him once on the face, twice on the left arm, and several times on the back with an Okapi knife,” Mr Dzipe said.
The court heard that he fled from the scene leaving Mr Sebele lying on the ground and bleeding from the stab wounds. Mr Sebele reported the matter at Madlambuzi Police Station.
In his defence statement Dube said he stabbed his friend Mr Sebele as a way of protecting himself because Mr Sebele was assaulting him.
“I accept the crime, I stabbed the complainant but l was only defending myself because he was assaulting me,” he said.
