Three brothers fined ͳͲ ͲͲͲ for ƒssƒult

MANZINI- Three brothers who were intoxicated from marula brew will have to spend eight years in prison or part with E10 000 for assaulting a hitch-hiker.

Lungelo (26), Mandlanzi (22) and Samkeliso (24) of Sigcineni, were said to have intentionally assaulted Melusi Sikhondze several times with open hands, fists and kicks all over the body. They further stoned him on the head with stones while at Sidvokodvo Tri-Cash on March 3.

The accused persons appeared before Manzini Principal Magistrate Sindisiwe Zwane, where they faced a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge.

When presenting their evidence before court, the complainant said he was from work hitch-hiking a lift at Sidvokodvo Tri-Cash, when the three accused persons approached him and his friend. He said they started assaulting him and he sustained an injury to his head.

Apologised

He said he apologised to the brothers but they continued attacking him. Sikhondze said he was saved by a police officer who took him to The Luke Commission, where he was treated and discharged.

Meanwhile, when mitigating on the sentence, the first accused applied for a lenient sentence. He said he had a child who was attending preschool. The second accused apologised for his act and appealed for a lenient sentence. He said they did not have parents to take care of them.

The court commented that the offence committed by the accused persons was in the line of abusing alcohol where people, upon imbibing on alcohol, traumatised those who were around them. The court noted that the major concern was that it was petty crimes such as these, that resulted in deaths.

“Hooligans like you have no place in society. Despite begging, you continued to assault the accused. Your behaviour is unacceptable,” the court observed.