Jeffrey Muvundusi • 26 March 2014 10:27AM • 5 comments
BULAWAYO - A 22-year-old man who allegedly stabbed a gay for proposing love to him has been acquitted by a Bulawayo court.
Bongani Phiri was appearing before regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi facing attempted murder charges.
Phiri, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, indicated during his defence that he was constantly being nagged and harassed by the complainant Walter Kwanele Ndlovu over a relationship.
According to the complainant, Phiri, behaved like a gay and had submitted that the latter would sometimes caress him without his consent.
Before passing his verdict, magistrate Nyathi cited among other issues the contradiction and inconsistencies of evidence put forward by the State and that of the witnesses.
Since Phiri was being charged for attempted murder, Nyathi said he was not satisfied that he had an intention to kill when he committed the alleged crime.
With regard to the nature of the case, Nyathi also admitted that issues pertaining to homosexuality in Zimbabwe were controversial.
“In Zimbabwe, the issue of homosexuality is a controversial one to such extent that it has drawn into the fray, the highest office in the country. Some people are known to hold strong views on homosexuality,” he said.
As a result Nyathi, found Phiri not guilty.
According to the State papers, on October 26, last year at around 10pm outside a shebeen in Nguboyenja suburb, the two engaged in an argument after Phiri accused Ndlovu of being gay.
The altercation got nastier which led to Phiri drawing an okapi knife from his pocket before stabbing the complainant on the upper left part of the chest.
The complainant sustained a deep cut and had to be ferried to a hospital.