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Midlands Reporter
A MAN from Chiundura, Midlands Province, allegedly knifed a fellow villager 12 times and left him for dead while fighting over an undisclosed sum of money.Innocent Sibanda, 23, Admire Tete, 27, and their yet-to-be identified friend who is at large, all from Chimurenga Village under Chief Chiundura, attacked Trymore Shoko while drinking beer at a local bottle store on Sunday.

Sibanda allegedly engaged his two friends to pin Shoko down while he savaged him with the knife. The three friends are now facing attempted murder charges.

Sibanda and Tete yesterday appeared before Gweru magistrate Florence Nago for initial remand. Nago remanded them in custody to September 30 for trial at the regional court.

For the State, Daniel Tafuma told the court that on September 14 this year at Gunde Business Centre, Sibanda, Tete and their friend who is still at large, approached Shoko who was drinking beer at Kwidini Bottle Store and ordered him to go outside the bottlestore.

Tafuma said they indicated to Shoko they wanted him to pay back money he owed Sibanda.

He said when Shoko refused to co-operate, with the trio forcibly carried him outside. Sibanda, the court heard, then produced an Okapi knife and stabbed Shoko 12 times in the back and head while his two friends made sure he could not escape.

Tafuma said Shoko was only saved from further punishment by his friend, Stewart Ticharwa, who came charging towards the three, demanding that they release his friend.

Shoko is admitted at Gweru Provincial Hospital. Tafuma said police had a torrid time when they came to arrest the two men who fought them with iron bars.