26-year-old man awaits court verdict in attempted ...

26-year-old man awaits court verdict in attempted murder rap

Zim Now Writer

A 26-year-old man, on Tuesday appeared in court facing attempted murder charges after trying to kill his parents by setting the house on fire.

Themba Mathe pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and blamed “evil spirits” for his actions.

It is alleged that Mathe tied the door of his parents’ bedroom hut from the outside and set the roof on fire while they were sleeping inside.

His father and stepmother managed to escape without getting hurt. The fire destroyed everything inside the house.

Mathe was reportedly caught hiding in the bush by his parents and neighbours.

In court, he explained that he did it as revenge because he believed his father did not love him.

“I admit to these two counts of attempted murder. I acted in the way I did for two reasons, firstly it was out of revenge because my parents don’t love me, they don’t take me as their own son and deny me food. They had chased me away from home and I was now staying with my grandfather Pharaoh Mathe of the same village.

“Secondly, I don’t know what got over me. I suspect it could have been evil spirits behind my actions. I am really sorry for what I did,” he said.

His father requested that the court impose a lengthy prison sentence on Themba.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life. I stared death face-to-face and lost all my property valued at US$600. I’m more scared of my son than I am of a lion! As I stand here, my wife and I have nothing under our name. I now sleep in the kitchen and we have no food,” the father said.

He added that he wished that his son be jailed so that he could learn important life lessons and how to get along with others.

He denied Themba’s claim that they kicked him out of the house, saying that Themba’s own mischievous behaviour caused problems and even led to him being beaten by people in their community.

Mathe is scheduled to be sentenced today.