Gibson Mhaka
JUSTICE was finally delivered on a case of four Form Four boys from Mathula Secondary School in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province who were captured on a clip that made the rounds on social media assaulting a Form Two girl from the same school as punishment for turning down a love proposal from one of the boys.
The four bullies aged between 16 and 17, and whose names are being withheld for legal reasons were hauled before Tsholotsho resident magistrate Victor Mpofu charged with assault as defined in Section 89 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
They all pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to three months in jail which were wholly suspended on condition that they each complete 105 hours of unpaid labour at Dogwe Primary School.
The community service will start when schools close.
In coming up with the sentence the court took into consideration the fact the four accused were still minors.
“In coming up with an appropriate sentence the trial court considered this was a novel case of youthful delinquency which usually arises out of immaturity and peer pressure.
“All the accused persons are minors by age and as such their interests as children should be protected in terms of hysteric recidivism.
“After consideration of the detailed probation officers’ reports the court had a view of giving the accused persons a punishment which is akin to school punishment.
“They all will perform community service at a public school. The court appreciated that the guardians of the accused persons compensated an apology to the guardian of the juvenile complainant.
“They are all school pupils and the court considered that as they are closing school in a week’s time and they shall complete and close the term and immediately thereafter they are made to work for their social sin,” charged Mpofu.
It was established in court that sometime in November last year one of the boys proposed love to the 14-year-old girl who was in Form One then, and his love proposal was turned down.
However, he repeatedly requested to meet the girl on her way home but the girl did not agree and would run away from him whenever she met him.
The court heard that on 25 November the boy in question then teamed up with his accomplices after knocking off from school and waylaid the complainant on her way home.
The four boys assaulted the complainant several times with open hands, switches and waist belts all over the body.
The girl sustained bruises on her back as a result of the attack.
She was referred to the Social Services Department for counselling and later to hospital for medication.
The four boys were later this year arrested after a clip that was captured when they assaulted the girl made rounds on social media platforms.
