A
former police officer who scalded his girlfriend with water following a
misunderstanding over meat, was yesterday sentenced to an effective three years
in jail.
Harare
magistrate Mrs Jessy Kufa initially slapped Simbarashe Sibanda, who used to be
based at Borrowdale Police Station, with a four-year jail term before
suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.
He
was convicted after a full trial. In passing sentence, Mrs Kufa said Sibanda,
as an officer of the law at the time of the offence, had committed a serious
offence and should have known better.
“Domestic
violence is an offence and it is on the increase in our society,” she said. “People
should not resort to violence. Sibanda had an adulterous affair, yet he was
married. What the accused did was immoral.
“The
complaint sustained severe burns and injuries on the neck and body. The medical
practitioner who attend to her said the burns could lead to death. Human life
is sacred.”
Mrs
Kufa said society condemns such behaviour morally and legally. She
said it was unfortunate that the offence was sparked by a minor issue of the
complaint’s failure to buy meat.
She
said the courts should be seen to be aiding Government efforts to eradicate
domestic violence. Herald
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