Two fatally assault drinking pal

Two men, Shepherd Moyo (34) and Prosper Sikhosana (26), were yesterday indicted for the alleged assault and murder of 37-year-old Mathew Maja on March 4, 2010 in the Midlands town of Torwood, Redcliff.

The two will appear in Gweru when the week-long High Court circuit opens on September 17, according to the papers of indictment served to the accused persons by the State.

Moyo and Sikhosana were accused of fatally assaulting Maja with booted feet and fists before one of them stabbed him on his left leg with a multi-blade knife.

On the fateful day, Maja was at Chisi bottle store in Torwood where the three were drinking.

The State alleged that when the bottle store closed at around 1am, the now deceased left in the company of the two accused who allegedly went on to assault him when he arrived home.

Maja's wife Thokozile Ruzibe, who was in the house at the time, is alleged to have heard her husband crying out for help and rushed outside to investigate.

According to the State, the two accused persons then attacked Ruzibe, forcing her to retreat into the house where she also called for help, leading to neighbours coming out to assist.

Maja was then taken to the police where a report was made, but he died on admission at Kwekwe General Hospital on May 5.

A postmortem which would be produced as evidence in court established that the cause of death was head injuries, a stab wound on the right thigh and excessive bleeding.

The State is set to call 13 witnesses to prove the case against the two who will now have to apply for bail at the High Court following the indictment.

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