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Noleen Makhurane Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man wrung his employer’s neck claiming that he was exorcising a demon that made her fire him. Fanuel Chauke, 50, barged into 39-year-old Joyce Chauke’s home demanding to know why she had terminated his building contract at Upper Rangemore.

Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso sentenced him to 15 days in prison with an option to pay a $50 fine by October 31. Fanuel told the court that he had an altercation with Joyce after a demon led her to fire him without notice. “I didn’t assault Joyce I just laid my hands on her and commanded the demon to leave her. This was after she told me I will no longer be building her house after I had finished the first phase,” he said.

Prosecuting Mufaro Mageza said on August 1, at 10AM Chauke went to Joyce’s place of residence to inquire why his contract had been terminated.

“After Joyce explained that he was charging exorbitant rates Chauke stood up, held the complainant by the neck and shook her. Chauke was restrained by the Joyce’s sister,” said Mageza.