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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE Plumtree man who axed his father to death, attempted to kill his mother and torched the family home claiming it was used by his parents to keep “witchcraft tools”, was yesterday sentenced to 30 years in jail.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva convicted Polland Moyo, 52, of Bhilingoma village of murder with actual intent, but concluded that there were extenuating circumstances.

Takuva killed his father, Thabani Moyo, a decade ago.

In his judgment, Justice Takuva queried Polland’s testimony, saying it lacked credibility and was full of inconsistencies. He rejected Polland’s statement that he attacked his father in self defence.

“The truth is that Polland armed himself with an axe in order to attack either of his parents. His assertion that he acted in self defence is untruthful because there was absolutely no unlawful attack against him,” said Justice Takuva.

“Polland’s averred intention was to kill his father and he also stated in his statement at the police station that he wanted to kill his father and that is direct evidence. His statement in court laced with lies and imperfection was an afterthought.”

The judge said it was the duty of the courts to stem the tide of murder cases following the increase in matters that are coming before the courts.

“It is clear that you harbour dangerous thoughts and in my view given a chance you might as well murder your mother,” said the judge.

Justice Takuva, however, said Polland’s belief in witchcraft which led to him killing his father was an extenuating circumstance.

“Polland believed that his parents practised witchcraft to the detriment of his unborn children through a series of miscarriages by his wife and that is an extenuating circumstance,” ruled Justice Takuva.

“The degree of cruelty by butchering your father, an old and frail man is indeed an act of gruesome murder. You also showed no remorse and accordingly you will go to jail for 30 years.”

Prosecuting, Ndlovu said on August 1, 2004 shortly after 7AM, Polland went to his parents’ homestead intending to talk to his mother, Siphi Ncube, who he blamed for his wife’s three miscarriages.

Ncube invited her son to a family meeting over the witchcraft accusations.

“During the meeting it was raised that Polland should offer his father a beast as a form of apology for previously accusing his mother of being a witch,” said Ndlovu.

The court heard that Polland felt offended and stormed into the kitchen, took an axe, charged towards his father before striking him.

The old man collapsed and died.

According to postmortem results, multiple skull fractures and brain damage caused his death.

Soon after killing his father, Polland turned to his mother, threatening to attack her. She, however, managed to escape. Polland then went back to the kitchen and came out carrying a burning log that he used to torch his parents’ three roomed house. All the household property was burnt.