Zimbabwean man on murder rap in UK

Zimbabwean man on murder rap in UK

• 'Zim doctor groped nurses in Canada'

• Zim man faces kidnap charges in Wales

• Nyarirangwe hits back at rape charges

• HIV tests for Zimbabwe preachers

By Suzy Gibson

A ZIMBABWEAN man who stabbed his wife five times in a row over her infidelity has denied he deliberately killed her, claiming she stabbed him first, a court in Leicester, England heard.

He told a jury he had loved her and never intended hurting her.

Sheperd Maswanhise claims he acted in self-defence when mother of three Sheila Kasinkunba stabbed him three times during a row.

She died in the hallway of their flat in Leicester's Humberstone Road on the afternoon of August 31 last year, having been stabbed in the chest four times and once in the back.

Maswanhise (35), who spent three days in hospital recovering, denies murder.

The prosecution allege he deliberately killed his wife before stabbing himself.

Giving evidence, he claimed his 34-year-old wife launched an attack on him as he answered an intercom call from his brother and a neighbour waiting for them downstairs.

He said she struck him two blows to his chest.

The defendant claimed his wife was fatally injured as he struggled with her and they fell to the floor.

He told Leicester Crown Court he had suspected her of having an affair with his half brother, Edmore Tandi, who also shared their two-bedroom top floor flat - but the pair denied any wrongdoing.

Maswanhise said he did not know for sure about their liaison until he read court papers. DNA tests confirmed Mrs Kasinkunba had had sex with Mr Tandi some time before dying.

The defendant said Mrs Kasinkunba would often instigate violent arguments after drinking heavily and sometimes set upon him to provoke a fight.

The police were called on several occasions.

Maswanhise said she also resented him sending money to a woman who bore him a son in their homeland of Zimbabwe.

On the night before the alleged murder, Maswanhise was arrested and held in police cells after a complaint from his wife.

She and Mr Tandi, 31, were holding a joint birthday party that night and Maswanhise said he had tried to stop her drinking before the celebrations began. On his return the next day they again argued.

When things calmed down they went to a neighbour's house before arranging to buy some beer from a local supermarket.

Mr Tandi and their neighbour waited downstairs while he and his wife went to fetch their shoes - but a row erupted in the flat.

Maswanhise said: "She thumped me twice. I saw a knife flashing. Then it was too late. It went in my chest.

"I twisted her wrist. We were banging against the walls. We were both on the floor.

"She let go of the knife and I picked it up. I got up. I never intended to harm her."

The trial continues.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com