TSHITALE – A resident of Mphadzha Village in the Nthabalala area, Mpho Ishmael Mashimbye (32), was sentenced to eight months in jail or to pay a fine of R2 000 for pointing a firearm at someone and crimen injuria.

The case was finalised in the Tshitale Magistrate's Court on Monday. The incident relating to the case took place at the Mphadzha Village in the Nthabalala area during the night of December 26, last year, at about 21:00. The court heard that on the day of the incident the accused had been drinking beer at a local shebeen.

While the accused was drinking beer the first complainant arrived at the scene. The first complainant is a 17-year-old girl who resides at the same village. Mashimbye proposed sex to the complainant and she refused.

Mashimbye then produced a firearm and threatened to shoot her if she did not have sex with him. She left the scene, however, and went home. Mashimbye then followed her to her kraal. The complainant was in the company of her mother when the accused arrived at her home. At that stage she was busy telling her mother how she had managed to escape death at the shebeen.

Mashimbye again produced a firearm and threatened the girl with death if she did not have sexual intercourse with him. The girl ran from the scene and locked herself inside the room. The accused then started cursing the girl's mother, accusing her of hiding her daughter.

Mashimbye left towards midnight. The girl and her 51-year-old mother reported the matter the police the following morning and Mashimbye was arrested later that afternoon. The case was postponed several times before it was finalised on Monday.

Mashimbye was still in custody at the time of going to press, despite the fact that he was given the option to pay a fine of R2 000. The court also prohibited the accused from possessing a firearm for the rest of his life.