A BULAWAYO man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death with a knife after accusing her of hiring thugs to kill him following a dispute, a High Court judge has heard.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere heard this when Trymore Ndlovu, 26, of Makokoba suburb, appeared before him facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Khethiwe Dhlamini, 25, in 2012.
Ndlovu said he acted in self-defence as two thugs hired by Dhlamini attacked him.
Justice Bere is expected to deliver judgment on the matter tomorrow.
Dhlamini’s friend, Nomalanga Moyo, who witnessed the murder, told the court that Ndlovu kicked her friend three times and she fell down.
Ndlovu then allegedly drew a knife and stabbed her twice in the neck.
She said Dhlamini and Ndlovu had an altercation the previous night at Madlodlo Beer Garden.
“We were heading home from a beer drink with Dhlamini when Ndlovu followed us. He confronted my friend and kicked her three times in the back shouting ‘I’ll kill you prostitute’ and when Dhlamini tried to escape he overpowered her and stabbed her in the neck,” said Moyo.
She said when she tried to restrain Ndlovu, he turned on her but she managed to escape.
“I tried to render first aid by pouring water on Dhlamini but it didn’t work and by the time the ambulance arrived she was already dead,” said Moyo.
Ndlovu, through his pro deo lawyer Thabani Matshakaile of Lazarus and Sarif Legal Practitioners, said he acted in self-defence as two thugs hired by Dhlamini attacked him.
“On September 28, we had an altercation with Dhlamini who accused me of robbing her client of money. The following day she hired two men to kill me,” said Ndlovu.
He claimed Dhlamini lured him out of the bar on the pretext that they should resolve their dispute privately.
“When we got outside the bar, we walked for a few metres after which two men emerged from behind in the company of Moyo and they started throwing stones at me. I believe they wanted to kill me acting on Dhlamini’s instructions. I pulled a knife and stabbed Dhlamini who was running away,” said Ndlovu.
He said his actions were a result of provocation by Dhlamini and her friends.
Prosecuting, Whisper Mabaudhi said on September 29, 2012 shortly after 7.30PM, Dhlamini was drinking beer at Madlodlo Beer Garden in Makokoba with Moyo.
The court heard that about 30 minutes later, the two friends left the bar and while walking towards their home at Kusile Flats, Ndlovu approached them. He started kicking Dhlamini in the back and then stabbed her.
