BULAWAYO - A man facing murder charges and threats from the deceased’s relatives to avenge the death of their kin has been further remanded in custody to Friday 24th.
Zibusiso Mpofu, the murder suspect, has maintained that his deceased opponent assaulted him first.
It is the State’s case that on December 20, Mpofu was drinking with his friend Njabulo Dube when an argument erupted at Railway Avenue.
The two then engaged in a fist fight, during which Mpofu picked up a stone and hit the deceased on the head just above the ear before fleeing.
Mpofu’s freedom was short lived as two of his friends Dube and Wellington Sithole, who witnessed the incident, helped the police by revealing his whereabouts.
A post mortem showed that Dube died as a result of head injuries inflicted by a blunt object.
Magistrate Gladmore Mushove also maintained that Mpofu should remain in protective custody for his own safety until trial date.
Timothy Mativenga, the investigating officer stationed at ZRP Tshabalala, had previously opposed bail application arguing that Mpofu had initially supplied false residential address, raising the chances of him absconding.
In a police statement submitted to the court, Mativenga said the accused claimed to be living on Cowdray Park it turned out that Mpofu does not live there as he is of no fixed abode and he might flee.