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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A MAN from Matobo allegedly brutally axed his cousin’s wife to death with a hoe while her eight-year-old son and brother-in-law, 17, watched helplessly.

Philani Maphosa, 36, of Mahosangwe Village, accused his cousin’s wife of defending her husband, Jethro Ndlovu, whom he suspected of having an adulterous affair with his wife, Siboniso Dube.

Maphosa’s trial was halted two years ago by the late Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema after he feigned madness. The judge ordered that Maphosa be examined by two doctors to ascertain his mental state in terms of the Mental Health Act before his trial for the alleged murder of Ncedisani Sibanda, 27.

In their psychiatric report, doctors concluded that Maphosa was mentally stable and fit to stand trial.

Maphosa appeared yesterday before Justice Francis Bere facing a murder charge.

His wife took to the witness’ stand and denied ever having an affair with Ndlovu.

She told the court that her husband forced her to admit the alleged extra-marital affair amid threats to kill her.

“On that particular day, I had returned home when my husband confronted me as I entered our homestead and he was carrying a love letter. He gave me the letter claiming it was sent to me by Jethro Ndlovu but I denied having an affair with him,” said Dube.

She said Maphosa took her to their bedroom hut and ordered his nephew to lock the door from outside before tying her legs and hands using a necktie.

Dube said her husband took five switches which were hidden under their bed and started assaulting her while forcing her to admit to the affair.

He also allegedly pulled out an axe from underneath the same bed and threatened to kill Dube.

She then admitted that she was in a relationship with Ndlovu to save her life, the court heard.

Maphosa then allegedly ordered his nephew to unlock the door after which he forced his wife to lead him to Ndlovu’s homestead.

“When we arrived at Ndlovu’s place, he was not there and Maphosa again forced me to admit before Sibanda that I was in love with her husband,” said Dube.

After failing to find Ndlovu, Maphosa and his wife proceeded to Ndlovu’s parents’ home and showed them the letter before returning to their home.

Sibanda’s son, Milton, 12, who was visibly traumatised, narrated how his mother was allegedly killed by Ndlovu as they watched helplessly with his uncle Brighton Dube.

“Maphosa came to our home in the evening and found us sitting in the kitchen. He approached my mother and they spoke in low voices such that we could hardly hear their conversation. He then pretended to be leaving before he picked a hoe which was by the door, made a U-turn and started striking my mother on the head and she fell down,” said Milton as he struggled to hold back tears.

The boy said her mother was carrying a baby on her back and the toddler was also injured during the attack.

Brighton’s evidence corroborated his nephew’s testimony.

He told the court that Ndlovu struck Sibanda five times in the head, cracking her skull in the process.

Prosecuting, Nokuthaba Ngwenya said on August 21, 2012, Maphosa went berserk after picking up a handwritten love letter along a path in Mahosangwe village. He suspected the letter was written by Ndlovu to his wife.

Days later, he allegedly went to Ndlovu’s homestead and when he could not find him, he vented his anger on Sibanda.

The court heard that Maphosa fled from the village but was arrested a few days later.

In his defence through his lawyer, Byron Sengweni, Maphosa said it was not his intention to kill Sibanda, claiming that he mistook the hoe for a stick.