Rank marshal jailed 12 months for assault

A NOTORIOUS rank marshal who together with three accomplices attacked and stabbed an innocent man has been slapped with a 12 month jail term by a Mutare magistrate.

Taurai Gumede (31) was charged with assault as defined in Section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe last Friday.

Gumede was convicted on his own guilty plea and sentenced to 12 months in jail. Mr Mahwe suspended four months for five months on condition of good behaviour.

Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.

“On March 7, 2018 Gumede and his accomplices who are still at large met Peter Mavhengere and they started assaulting him. Gumede asked the complainant he had previously assaulted his friend. He took some money from him. Gumede pushed the complainant and he fell on the ground.

“Gumede’s accomplices joined in and attacked Mavhengere with clenched fists and booted feet.

“One of the assailants drew a knife and stabbed the complainant on his head,” said Mr Karombe.

Mavhengere sustained a minor cut on the head and bruises on the right knee. The four attackers then fled the scene.

Gumede was later arrested by police after a report had been made.

Mr Mahwe said cases of assault were on the rise and those who attack innocent civilians with dangerous weapons must be incarcerated to send a strong message to would be offenders.