THE man who was arrested for killing a leopard that had
attacked him in January while on a mopane worm (amacimbi) harvesting expedition
at a farm in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province has been acquitted.
Abednigo Moyo’s story, which was first broken by Sunday
News made headlines internationally when he was arrested and faced a possible
jail-term for poaching after he wrestled and killed the wild cat at Mgumela
Farm.
However, on 23 March Plumtree court magistrate Ms Nomusa
Ncube acquitted Moyo together with two other accused persons, Isaac Moyo and
Walter Ncube. The trio was facing a charge for contravening Section 59 (2) of
the Parks and Wildlife Act.
However, the owner of the farm, William Ncube was convicted
and sentenced to three months in prison or a fine of $2 000 for being found in
position of the dead animal. The court felt another man Majoni Dube who had
accompanied Mr Ncube to his homestead carrying the carcass had no case to
answer. Ms Rosemary Mbeure prosecuted.
In his submissions the accused persons’ lawyer, Mr Prince
Butshe of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers argued that the leopard was killed in
defence of human life. Contacted for a comment Mr Butshe confirmed the development.
“The three Abednigo Moyo, Isaac Moyo and Walter Ncube were
all acquitted. The old man, William Ncube was convicted and sentenced to pay $2
000 or three months in prison. The three were acquitted because there was no
evidence that they carried the carcass of the leopard after they killed it in
defence of Abednigo. Ncube carried it to his home and he skinned it hence the
conviction,” he said. Sunday News
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