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Angeline Mpofu Court Reporter
A PARTY turned into a funeral recently when a man from Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb was brutally assaulted following a row with fellow party goers over a cellphone.Ayibongwe Ncube, 25, died after being assaulted during a row over a cellphone at a birthday party in Emakhandeni.

Prosecutors say five men went after him with bricks, booted feet and fists after he had refused to give them a cellphone.

So savage was the attack that it left him bleeding from the head and unable to speak. Promptly dumb after the assault, Ncube had to improvise sign language while narrating his experience to a relative.

He died before being taken to hospital due to the severity of the head injuries he had sustained during the attack.

Bhekimpilo Sibanda of New Lobengula and Mvusi Nyathi, Valentine Nyathi, Mgcini Mabena, Ackim Nyathi all of Emakhandeni appeared before Bulawayo magistrates yesterday facing murder charges. They pleaded not guilty, but were told to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Caroline Matanga said on April 12 at about 10PM, Ncube was tasked to braai some meat by their host, Lindile Ndlovu.

“His friend Clinton Ncube gave the now deceased a cellphone to provide light since there was not enough light at the braai place. Clinton then left Ncube as he proceeded to the shops to buy some more beer for the party,” she said.

Two of the alleged killers, said Matanga, approached Ncube and demanded to have the cellphone he was using, claiming that it was theirs.

“Ncube refused to give them the cellphone explaining that he was not going to give them the cellphone in Clinton’s absence,” she said.
“The argument degenerated into a fight as the two started assaulting the deceased with fists. The other three accused persons also joined in and assaulted him using bricks, fists and booted feet.”

The prosecutor said Ncube escaped to his aunt’s house in the same area, but failed to narrate the ordeal due to the seriousness of the injuries. Instead, he used signs to communicate that he had been assaulted at the party.

She said Ncube died later in the night as a result of the head injuries before he could be taken to hospital.

“He was seriously injured and therefore struggled to get to his aunt’s house. When he got to the house, he was already bleeding from his head,” said prosecutor.

“When he arrived at the house he could not narrate what had happened. He managed to use signs to tell his aunt that he had been assaulted at the party.”

The trial continues on May 6.