100-year-old grandpa killer freed

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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A MAN who stormed his 100-year-old grandfather’s bedroom while he was asleep and axed him to death before burning his body will not be going to jail, a judge said yesterday.

Willard Ndebele, 20, of Madlambuzi village in Plumtree, killed Tayala Ndebele accusing him of witchcraft.

Justice Maxwell Takuva of the Bulawayo High Court yesterday ruled that Ndebele was mentally unstable when he committed the callous murder crime in 2013.

Justice Takuva said Ndebele is a danger to society and ordered him to be sectioned in a mental health institution to receive medical treatment and care after passing a ‘not guilty’ verdict.

Justice Takuva ruled that Ncube could not be held criminally liable for his actions as he was mentally ill.

He returned a special verdict of not guilty to a murder charge because of insanity in terms of the Mental Health Act.

According to the psychiatric report, Willard suffered from a mental disorder called epileptic psychosis.

Nokuthaba Ngwenya, for the prosecution, said on July 23, 2013, shortly after 6AM, Willard left a relative’s homestead following a night-long funeral wake and went to his home. He got into his hut and retired to bed without locking the door.

The court heard that about an hour later, he woke up, armed himself with an axe and went to his grandfather’s homestead. On arrival, he headed to his bedroom and kicked the door open.

He struck Ndebele twice on the head and he died instantly.

“He then torched the hut and fled from the scene,” said Ngwenya.

Willard went back to his home and informed his sister, Sitoboke, that he had killed their grandfather alleging that he was responsible for the death of family members.

Villagers raced to the old man’s home and found his bedroom in flames. They managed to put out the fire and retrieved the charred remains with the axe still stuck in his head.

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