A Lower Gweru man allegedly struck his lover twice on the head with a hoe handle, raped her after which he hit her once more resulting in her instant death, having accused her of stealing his phone.
Jefferey Sithole, 64, of Mkoba village under Chief Bunina in Lower Gweru appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to July 31.
Prosecuting, Daniel Tafuma said that sometime last week, Sithole and the now deceased, Beauty Sibanda, 54, were drinking beer together at Kwakwethu bottle store in Lower Gweru.
“At around 7PM, Sithole and Sibanda left the bar and were offered a lift home by a local motorist, Albert Moyo. When they dropped off, Sithole alleged that Sibanda had stolen his cellphone,” said Tafuma.
He told the court that Sithole struck Sibanda once on the head with a hoe handle in front of Moyo who advised him to stop assaulting the helpless woman.
He said Sithole pretended to have understood and stopped the assault.
“While on their way home, Sithole struck the now deceased Sibanda with the hoe handle on the head once more before dragging her into the bush where he undressed her. He then raped her once,” said Tafuma.
The court heard that after Sithole had sexually abused Sibanda, he bludgeoned her with the hoe handle for the third time once in the face and she fell to the ground. Tafuma said Sibanda lost two teeth and shortly died on the spot as a result of the assault.
“When Sithole saw that Sibanda was dead, he dragged her into a thick forest and abandoned the body. He hid her purse, petticoat, pant and the wig that he had confiscated before the rape,” said Tafuma.
The court heard that Sibanda’s body was discovered by a local herdsman who was passing by. He reported the matter to the police.
“Investigations by the police led to the arrest of Sithole. Sithole confessed to the police having raped his lover before killing her.
“He gave the police graphic details of the rape and murder, including how he hid Sibanda’s body, purse and clothing in a bid to conceal the crime,” said Tafuma.
Jefferey Sithole, 64, of Mkoba village under Chief Bunina in Lower Gweru appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to July 31.
Prosecuting, Daniel Tafuma said that sometime last week, Sithole and the now deceased, Beauty Sibanda, 54, were drinking beer together at Kwakwethu bottle store in Lower Gweru.
“At around 7PM, Sithole and Sibanda left the bar and were offered a lift home by a local motorist, Albert Moyo. When they dropped off, Sithole alleged that Sibanda had stolen his cellphone,” said Tafuma.
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| A Lower Gweru man allegedly struck his lover twice on the head with a hoe handle, raped her after which he hit her once more resulting in her instant death, having accused her of stealing his phone. |
He said Sithole pretended to have understood and stopped the assault.
“While on their way home, Sithole struck the now deceased Sibanda with the hoe handle on the head once more before dragging her into the bush where he undressed her. He then raped her once,” said Tafuma.
The court heard that after Sithole had sexually abused Sibanda, he bludgeoned her with the hoe handle for the third time once in the face and she fell to the ground. Tafuma said Sibanda lost two teeth and shortly died on the spot as a result of the assault.
“When Sithole saw that Sibanda was dead, he dragged her into a thick forest and abandoned the body. He hid her purse, petticoat, pant and the wig that he had confiscated before the rape,” said Tafuma.
The court heard that Sibanda’s body was discovered by a local herdsman who was passing by. He reported the matter to the police.
“Investigations by the police led to the arrest of Sithole. Sithole confessed to the police having raped his lover before killing her.
“He gave the police graphic details of the rape and murder, including how he hid Sibanda’s body, purse and clothing in a bid to conceal the crime,” said Tafuma.
