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Sukulwenkosi Dube  Plumtree Correspondent     
A Bulawayo  man allegedly struck his elder brother with a beer bottle and later used the broken bottle to stab him in the stomach during a fight over beer.Austin Mathuthu, 23, of Cowdray Park suburb allegedly flew into a rage after his 35-year-old brother, Edmore Dube drank his beer.

Mathuthu yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon facing charges for attempted murder. He was not asked to plead and remanded in custody to April 14.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said on August 7 last year, Mathuthu and his friends were drinking beer at Mabuledi Business Centre where Dube later joined them.

He said Mathuthu left his beer as he proceeded to relieve himself behind a bush nearby.

Shawarira said while Mathuthu was away Dube drank his beer and when he returned he found his bottle empty.

He said an argument ensued after Mathuthu demanded his beer from his brother  who indicated that he did not have money to buy him another.

Shawarira said Mathuthu armed himself with an empty beer bottle and struck Dube once on the head.

He then used the broken bottle to stab his brother in the stomach, the court heard.

Shawarira said Dube fell to the ground and lost consciousness and on realising this Mathuthu fled the scene.

The court heard that Mathuthu was arrested on March 28 after police detectives received a tip-off from members of the public.

In another incident, a 21-year-old Bulilima man allegedly beat up his 65-year-old uncle with a knobkerrie in the face after accusing him of stealing his cellphone.

Descent Sibanda who stays with his uncle, Elliot Sibanda in Tshankwa area, allegedly could not locate his cellphone and started accusing his uncle of stealing it. Descent was found assaulting his uncle using a knobkerrie by their neighbours, the court heard.

He appeared on initial remand before the same magistrate facing assault charges and was remanded in custody to April 8.