FOUR Bulawayo men, who fatally assaulted a drinking mate over a girlfriend, are set to appear at the Bulawayo High Court on a murder charge.
The quartet is expected in court on February 25 this year.
Luckmore Sibanda, Bafowethu Nyoni, Thembelani Hloniphani Ndlovu and Honest Mloyi are alleged to have assaulted Innocent Simango on December 10, 2022, during a beer binge in Tshabalala, Bulawayo.
The four are being represented by various lawyers pro deo.
The lawyer representing Ndlovu, Brian Robi confirmed that the matter has been set for trial on Tuesday next week.
He said he was allocated the case but had not met Ndlovu as his whereabouts were not known since he was not at Khami Prison.
Robi said the trial would kick-off when Ndlovu became available.
According to court papers, 12 witnesses are lined up to testify against the accused when trial starts while affidavits sworn by Juana Radriguez Gregori, who is stated as 12th witness will be used as evidence in court.
- Four murder suspects to appear at High Court
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It is the State’s case that on December 10, 2022, the four accused were drinking beer at Mnethi Sports Bar in Tshabalala, where Simango in the company of Tiwonge Muradzi, Ian Mabola, David Dube and Prosper Mugoniwa were also drinking while watching World Cup soccer matches.
Sibanda, who was reportedly in a drunken stupor, had a misunderstanding with Simango and allegedly teamed up with his co-accused and assaulted him.
Muradzi, who was the first to leave the bar expecting his friends to follow, allegedly met the four accused at the exit and they accused him of having an affair with his girlfriend identified as Nomagugu Mpofu.
Muradzi was stabbed on the head with a sharp object before he ran back into the bar leading to a brawl pitting the two gangs.
During the fight, Simango was allegedly stabbed on the left side of the neck and tried to flee before he collapsed and died.
The four accused reportedly fled from the scene.
A police report was made leading to the arrest of the quartet.
