By Meditation Mposi
A Masvingo man was sentenced to three years in prison for attempted murder after injuring his neighbor’s son, who had come to his house to see his minor child at night, with a hoe.
He will however serve an effective two years after the magistrate suspended one year on condition that he will not commit a similar offense in the next five years.
John Jakarasi (42) of Marevakayi Village under Chief Chikwanda Masvingo was convicted and sentenced by Masvingo Magistrate Innocent Bepura after pleading guilty to the charges.
The state led by Liberty Hove told the court that on October 19, 2024 at around 0000hours the 17-year-old complainant went to Jakarasi’s homestead to see Jakarasi’s minor daughter, his supposed girlfriend.
The boy entered into a room where Jakarasi’s children were sleeping and they screamed alerting their father who came but could not find the intruder.
On his way back to his room Jakarasi shouted that he was going to sleep and will see the boy the following day since he suspected it was him.
Having heard that, the boy came back and Jakarasi caught him and assaulted him with a hoe on the head, right leg and foot. He sustained deep cuts and was admitted at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
In his defense, Jakarasi said he was angry because it was the third time he caught the complainant, adding that at some point the boy shouted obscenities to him telling him to sleep with his wife and not his children.
He also said the boy threw stones on his house in protest which made him lose his temper.
In passing the judgment Bepura said Jakarasi was wrong in taking the law into his hands but the complainant’s behavior prompted the crime. He added that the complainant went to Jakarasi’s homestead with the intention of having sexual intercourse with the accused’s child which was so wrong.
He however said Jakarasi as a parent was supposed to help with hospital bills after injuring the minor but out of US$500 medical bills he only helped with US$50.
