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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A MAN killed his cousin by striking him with a knobkerrie on the head following a heated argument over the dollar-rand exchange rate, a court heard yesterday.

Lenin Mhlophe, 23, of Sibantubanye Village in Filabusi appeared before Justice Lawrence Kamocha at the Bulawayo High Court charged with murder with actual intent.

Mhlophe killed his cousin, Mmeli Tshili, 21, last year on July 1.

Prosecuting, Nokuthaba Ngwenya said shortly after 8.30PM, Mhlophe and Tshili were watching a Fifa World Cup match on television at Mphehlane Nightclub at Vocola Business Centre in Filabusi.

The court heard that the two cousins then decided to go outside to play snooker while listening to music which was being played at the bar from Mhlophe’s mobile phone memory card.

Tshili expressed interest in the music and he subsequently offered to buy the memory card from Mhlophe.

“Tshili bought the cellphone memory card from Mhlophe for $6 and expected to get $4 change from R100,” said Ngwenya.

The scuffle arose when Mhlophe gave him $3 only indicating that the exchange rate for United States dollar and the South African rand was not 1:10 as he claimed.

The court heard that Tshili insisted that he was right and demanded the $1 shortfall and Mhlophe became angry.

Mhlophe then went back to the nightclub and fished out a knobkerrie.

“Mhlophe took his knobkerrie and hit Tshili on the head once and he fell to the ground. He took to his heels leaving his cousin lying unconscious,” said Ngwenya.

Tshili’s uncle, Majaha Masuku, in his testimony, said he tried to render first aid before his nephew was rushed to Filabusi Hospital where he was referred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“Soon after committing the crime, Mhlophe picked up his bicycle and disappeared into the dark.

I tried to render first aid to my nephew, but it didn’t work as he remained unconscious and bleeding from the nose and head,” said Masuku.

Tshili’s condition deteriorated resulting in his death two days later.

A post-mortem report said the cause of death was intracranial haemorrhage, depressed skull fracture and blunt force trauma.

In his defence through his lawyer, Caroline Mudenda, Mhlophe said he acted in self-defence.

“I didn’t intend to kill Tshili but I only acted to protect myself.

Tshili was the aggressor and I only reacted after he had pushed me against the wall and that’s when I struck him with a knobkerrie,” argued Mhlophe.

The trial continues.