Killer robbers jailed 60 years

TWO convicted robbers from Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb who robbed a woman of $60 and allegedly killed her co-tenant who had rushed to her rescue, were yesterday sentenced to a combined 60 years in jail.

Moses Ncube (28) and Walter Moyo (30) connived with four accomplices, two of whom are still at large, and fatally struck Munkuli Siamubine (39) with a machete when he tried to stop them from attacking and robbing Ms Marian Kajewe.

Their two female accomplices, Sisasenkosi Moyo and Sithandekile Moyo are serving prison terms for robbery following their conviction by regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza last year.

The other two suspects, Mandlenkosi Moyo and another one only identified as Bee, are on the run.

Moses and Walter Ncube, who were last year each sentenced to an effective five years in jail by Mr Mabeza for robbery, were on Tuesday convicted of murder with constructive intent by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Mabhikwa.

They were each sentenced to an effective 30 years in jail.

In passing the sentence, Justice Mabhikwa said the two men should count themselves lucky after escaping capital punishment by a whisker on a technicality.

“The murder that is committed in the course of robbery usually attracts a death sentence, but however, due to the fact that there was no eye witness as well as the subsidiary role that they played in this offence, the accused persons are therefore spared from a death sentence,” he said.

Justice Mabhikwa condemned the two accused persons’ conduct, saying both the robbery and murder were pre-planned.

“What is aggravatory is that there was an elaborate plan by the accused persons and their accomplices to commit the robbery, which led to the death of an innocent man. The courts will not tire in their endeavour to protect the community from such people who plan acts of robbery that subsequently result in the killing of someone over $60, which is not worth the deceased’s life,” he said.

The court heard that Sisasenkosi and Sithandekile, who have since been turned into State witnesses in the murder case, informed the accused persons that their tenant Ms Kajewe had $2 000 in her house in November 2017. They hatched a plan to rob her.

Sisasenkosi and Sithandekile did not go to Ms Kajewe’s house because they didn’t want her to identify them.

Moses, Walter, Mandlenkosi and Bee went to the house and stabbed Ms Kajewe twice and allegedly struck Siamubine several times with a machete leading to his death.

Prosecuting, Mr Nqobizitha Ndlovu said on November 14, 2017 at around 10PM, Moses, Walter, Mandlenkosi and Bee went to Ms Kajewe’s house armed with okapi knives and machetes.

He said Mandlenkosi, Bee and Ncube entered the yard, broke down Ms Kajewe’s door while Walter stood guard outside.

“Ms Kajewe screamed for help and the robbers stabbed her in the abdomen and right shoulder while demanding cash. She handed over $30 which was in her wardrobe and $30 which was in the kitchen under dinner plates,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The court heard that Ms Kajewe’s fellow tenant Siamubine heard her screams and came out to rescue her.

“He met the robbers near the door and they struck him on the back of the neck with a machete several times. He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” said Mr Ndlovu.

According to the post mortem results, the cause of death was haemorrhagic shock, callous neck stabbing and murder.

For their part, Sisasenkosi was sentenced to five years in jail and two and a half years were suspended on condition of good behaviour while Sithandekile was sentenced to an effective three years after three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. — @mashnets