Elderly Man Beats Friend To Death Mistaking Him For Robber

In a case of mistaken identity, a man killed his friend after mistaking him for a robber. The incident took place in Zimbabwe on Saturday.

According to local reports, the duo, identified as 60-year-old Elton Ngoma and 43-year-old Mgcini Sibanda, was heading back home after helping border jumpers cross illegally into Botswana when they decided to take separate routes in the middle of the night. When they met in a bushy area a while later, Ngoma mistook his friend for a robber and started beating him up before fleeing the scene.

A passerby, Mafukunyane Mguni, found Sibanda lying injured and took him to the police station. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Ngoma was taken into custody and produced before the court.

“On Jan.18 Mgcini Sibanda was brought injured to Plumtree Police Station by an informant, Mafukunyane Mguni. Mguni indicated that he found Sibanda injured in a bushy area near Plumtree Border Post where he is alleged to have been assaulted by his friend Elton Ngoma. Sibanda was referred to Plumtree District Hospital for treatment where he died the following day while admitted. Ngoma was arrested on January 20,” a prosecutor told the court.

Ngoma faces murder charges and remained in jail as of Thursday. The investigation into the case was ongoing.