Friends team up to assault lover, leave her with life-threatening injuries

by Court Reporter

2012 June 01 08:13:22 | 1905 Views

A man from the Fairbridge area of Umguza suffered life-threatening injuries to the head after his girlfriend teamed up with her friend and they severely assaulted him.

Although the reasons for the assault were not disclosed, Kuthandakwenkosi Ngwenya, who was in love with Mr Mhlonipeni Machipisa (32), teamed up with her friend Abigail Ndlovu and they waylaid Machipisa as he was coming from a beer drink.

They struck him with an empty beer bottle on the head and also used their shoe heels to strike him on the head resulting in him sustaining serious head injuries that led to him being admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

Ngwenya (26) and Ndlovu (22), who both reside at Plot Number 3, Fairstar Road, Fairbridge, Umguza, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but were convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Judith Zuyu.

They were each sentenced to five years in prison of which two years were conditionally suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The pair, which said they each have two children to look after, apologised to the court and Mr Machipisa for their actions and pleaded with the court to exercise lenience in passing sentence.

In passing, Mrs Zuyu said she had taken into account that they are first female offenders but noted that they delivered a blow with a bottle to the head, which is an important component of the body system.

"You took turns to assault the complainant taking advantage that he was very drunk. You were better placed physically because you fled from the scene if the court is to believe your story that he was violent.

"After the serious assault you did not assist the complainant by taking him to a clinic since he was bleeding but instead you decided to run away," said the magistrate.

Mrs Zuyu said although they have a constitutional right to associate with whoever they want she did not think it was in the best interests of their children to be at the bar until 11pm.

She added: "You could have avoided such things by going home early and taken good care of your children. The medical report shows that the haemorrhage could have led to death. The only suitable punishment is a custodial term."

The prosecutor, Mr Jabulani Mhlanga, told the court that on 15 January this year, Mr Machipisa and his friends were at Oka Shopping Centre drinking beer.

The two women arrived at around 4pm and he bought them beer.

At around 11pm, as he was going home, they waylaid him and severely assaulted him.

He was taken to UBH and it is said he now behaves like someone who is mentally challenged as he cannot tell what actually happened.

The medical report states that the injuries are very serious and that there is a potential danger to life and a possibility of death.

Assault

Source: Court