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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A MURDER suspect who is in remand at Gwanda Prisons has been sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for attacking a cellmate, leaving him with loose teeth following a misunderstanding over a cigarette.

Admire Makoni, 24, who is being held for murder, gave his cellmate Callup Sibanda, 36, a thorough beating for refusing to give him a cigarette he was craving.

Makoni pleaded not guilty to assault but was convicted by magistrate Sheila Nazombe due to the overwhelming evidence against him.

Sibanda will serve an effective eight months in prison after four months of his jail term were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.

“State witnesses corroborated each other and the injuries sustained by the complainant also corroborate the medical report,” said magistrate Nazombe said.

“It’s highly unlikely that a fall would cause such kind of injuries. I’m therefore inclined to believe the complainant’s version.”

After his conviction, Makoni told the magistrate that he was in pain and needed medical attention as he was thoroughly beaten by prison officers after the altercation.

“Your Worship, I’m requesting to be sent to hospital because I was heavily assaulted by prison officers. I’m even failing to pass urine due to the assault,” he said.

The magistrate ordered Makoni to be taken to hospital for treatment.

The court heard that on March 8 at around 8AM at Gwanda Prison, Sibanda was cleaning in the cells when he was approached by Makoni who said he had been sent by one Brighton Munyira to ask for a cigarette.

However, when asked by Sibanda, Munyira denied that he had sent Makoni.

“The accused started insulting the complainant but he remained silent. He went on to charge towards the complainant and assaulted him by punching him four times on the mouth.

“At that same time, Lingani Sibanda who is an inmate arrived and restrained the accused giving the complainant time to run away,” said prosecutor Getrude Zvidzai.

“The complainant sustained some injuries on the mouth as well as some loose teeth due to the assault. The matter was reported to the Prisons staff who took the complainant to the hospital where he was treated and discharged.”