In a dramatic turn of events, a man from Gwanda was arrested after he bit a police officer who tried to apprehend his for assaulting his wife.
The publication has established that Barbson Pande age 40 from Jacaranda Suburb was arrested after he assaulted his wife Farai Matekenya and when she reported him to the police. An enraged Pande went on to bite Constable Artwell Chokera’s upper lip in an effort to resist arrest.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare told the court that on 9 July at around 6 PM Pande was at home with his family when he started accusing Matekenya of making noise for him together with their children. Pande threatened to kill her which prompted Matekenya to call the police and report the incident.
”Two police officers attended the scene and when Pande saw them he further insulted his wife, grabbed her by the neck, and dragged her on the floor. The cops tried to apprehend Pande but instead, he bit Constable Artwell Chokera on the upper lip before fleeing the scene,” said Prosecutor Nare.
After a struggle, they managed to apprehend him. In his defense Pande denied ever assaulting his wife, saying that he was only reprimanding her. He argued that the police officers only wanted to apprehend him for their personal gain as one of them was having an affair with his wife.
”One of the police officers is having an affair with my wife and they only wanted to arrest me in order to spite me. When my wife called the station alleging that I had assaulted her she didn’t even give them directions to our house or house number but they just came straight. I didn’t assault my wife but we just exchanged harsh words following a misunderstanding. I didn’t drag her on the floor as alleged,” he said.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of physical abuse and assaulting a peace officer but was convicted by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi due to the overwhelming evidence against him.
Pande was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment but six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offense within the next five years. The remaining six months were further suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Gwanda Magistrate’s Court.
