Man sentenced 10 years for killing ex-wife's lover

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Zim Now Writer

A man from Mutasa district, Daniel Gumbu, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mutare High Court Justice Isaac Muzenda for murdering his ex-wife’s boyfriend, Goodwell Mhlanga, in cold blood.

Gumbu assaulted Mhlanga on January 21, 2022, at Plot 40, Magarasadza with fists and bricks resulting in severe head injuries leading to his death.

Prosecutor Malvin Musarurwa stated that Gumbu continued to attack the victim despite the real risk that it would cause death.

On August 9,2019, Gumbu reportedly went home drunk and assaulted his wife Ms Samende who then left her matrimonial home and moved in with her brother in Penhalonga.

On December 21, 2021, Ms Samende went to stay at Plot 40, Magarasadza, where Mhlanga was also residing.

Mhlanga proposed love to Samende, and she accepted.

"On January 21, 2022, Ms Samende was in the same room as Mhlanga when she went outside to relieve herself. Upon her return, she heard Mhlanga screaming for help as Gumbu assaulted him with a brick.

Samende sought help from a neighbour, but they failed to rescue Mhlanga. When they returned, Gumbu was still assaulting Mhlanga with a brick.

"They eventually found Mhlanga lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Dr Chibhowa conducted a post-mortem and concluded that the cause of death was due to severe head injuries.

"Gumbu denied the allegations, claiming that he only went to his ex-wife’s house to deliver groceries to their children. He stated that upon arrival, his ex-wife fled, and he saw Mhlanga in the room armed with a brick.

" A fight broke out between the two of them, and they used various kitchen utensils as weapons. They eventually fell outside, where they fought on the rocks. Other people restrained them, and they stopped fighting," Mr Musarurwa said.