Tsholotsho man killed for spilling beer

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

A TSHOLOTSHO man who killed his drinking partner after spilling beer on him has been sentenced to eight years in jail for culpable homicide.

Mhlawumbe Moyo from Madlangombe Line in Tsholotsho was 38 years old when he committed the crime in 2004. He fled from the scene after fatally assaulting Russel Mpofu who was 35 from Efusini in Tsholotsho and his whereabouts were not known until his arrest recently.

He pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese who was on circuit in Hwange last week. The judge, however,  slapped Moyo with eight years in jail before suspending three years for five years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecuting, Mrs Martha Cheda said Moyo and Mpofu were drinking beer at Lambada Nite Club when the fight broke out. She said the two were sitting together and Moyo was drinking opaque beer while the deceased was drinking clear beer. The two would occasionally insult each other and laugh at each other’s jokes while enjoying their drink. Even when the fight started, the court heard, the two walked out of the drinking hall arm in arm and laughing before they engaged in a fist fight outside.

“On the 3rd of August 2004 the accused and deceased were drinking beer at Lambada Nite Club. The accused started shaking his container of opaque beer and it burst and spilt on the deceased’s shirt,” said Mrs Cheda.

She said Mpofu insulted Moyo calling him stupid.

Moyo was infuriated and threatened to kill Mpofu who responded by saying Moyo was not strong enough to kill him. The two burst out laughing and continued drinking. The court heard that they hugged each other and walked out of the drinking hall arm in arm. While outside they continued insulting each other and a fist fight ensued. A security guard tried to restrain the two but failed.

Other patrons came out of the night club and Moyo ran away and Mpofu threw stones as he chased after him.

The court heard that Moyo turned around and punched Mpofu who fell to the ground. He kicked him on the head before picking a stone which he used to strike him severally on the head and left the scene.

Mpofu’s lifeless body was found the following morning with multiple injuries on the head. Ms Linda Mtombeni of Dube, Nkala and Company represented Moyo. – @ncubeleon.