Cephas Shava
10 Feb 2017 – MWENEZI – A 41-year-old man went on the rampage destroying window panes of the house of his uncle – his father’s elder brother – after allegedly seeing the elderly man loitering at his homestead in the middle of the night.
Appearing before Mwenezi Magistrate, Honest Musiwa, was Cainos Mhere of Village 2 Beperi, Chief Maranda, who pleaded innocent to the charges of malicious damage to property of 66-year-old Nerian Mhere of the same village.
It is the State’s case that on December 10, 2016, Cainos went to Nerian’s homestead shouting, accusing him of witchcraft and ordering him to come out.
When Nerian refused, Cainos allegedly struck the door handle and smashed some window panes before he was restrained by his younger brother.
The accused however told Magistrate Musiwa that he only went to his uncle’s house to find out what was going on.
“I visited his homestead but I did not smash any window pane. I just ran after him because I had spotted him at my homestead in the night. So I wanted to ask him what exactly was he doing,” Cainos
Giving evidence before the same court, Nerian however said Cainos was armed with a stick when he visited his homestead.
He allegedly smashed his window panes saying he would bury him that day.
He also confirmed that the bad blood between him and Cainos dated back to 2011 when he refused to engage witch hunters because it is not allowed in his church.
The trial continues this week. Willard Chasi appeared for the state.local
