A special sitting of the Bulawayo High Court was interrupted and moved to another courtroom after a stray brown cat wandered into proceedings and refused to leave.
The judge ordered a brief adjournment while police officers and court staff attempted to remove the animal, which had disrupted the trial.
Bright Tshuma (19), of Nkulumane, Bulawayo, was on trial facing a murder charge. Following a full trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally stabbing the deceased with a Colombia CCCP AK-47 knife.
The unusual incident occurred on June 3, 2026, during Tshuma's trial.
The court heard that a brown stray cat slowly walked into the courtroom and let out a mournful, ear-piercing wail that disrupted proceedings.
The judge briefly adjourned the matter and instructed police officers to attend to the cat, which continued crying throughout the proceedings.
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A comical scene unfolded as four police officers, four prison officers and the court caretaker attempted to remove the animal.
The commotion attracted amused members of the public, who gathered at the courtroom entrance to watch.
The growing audience appeared to unsettle the cat further, causing it to dart from behind the accused person's dock to the judge's table.
The cat then tucked itself beneath the judge's bench and reacted aggressively to further attempts to remove it.
Ultimately, the animal won its battle for the courtroom. The proceedings were relocated to another courtroom, where the trial continued.
No injuries were reported during the disruption.
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