An enraged Gokwe man recently went berserk and torched his neighbour’s house where a 15-year-old boy was sleeping following a misunderstanding over a missing pig which he suspected his neighbour had slaughtered.
The suspect will, however, rue his anger- inspired actions as he will languish in prison for eight years after he was found guilty of attempted murder.
Silas Gukuta (26), of Manyepa village under Chief Sayi in Gokwe North, appeared before Gokwe regional magistrate, Mr Amos Mbobo last Wednesday on a charge of attempted murder.
Gukuta pleaded guilty to the charge and Mr Mbobo sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Representing the State Mr Robert Ndlala said that on 11September this year, Gukuta had a misunderstanding with his neighbour Ms Gladies Zambezi whom he accused of slaughtering his pigs that had encroached into her garden.
A heated argument between Gukuta and Zambezi ensued during which the former threatened the latter with unspecified action.
Mr Ndlala told the court that at around 1:00 am the following morning, Gukuta went to the neighbour’s homestead where he set his neighbour’s bedroom ablaze where a 15-year-old boy was sleeping.
The court heard that the boy who is a nephew to the complainant woke up after being chocked by smoke from the burning heat. The boy managed to escape after he broke the wooden door of the burning hut with an axe.
After managing to escape from the gutted hut, the boy managed to spot Gukuta who was running away. Mr Ndlala further told the court that the boy woke up his aunt who was sleeping in her kitchen hut who then reported the matter to the police leading to Gukuta’s arrest.
Property worth thousands of dollars belonging to Zambezi was destroyed in the fire. Sunday News
