File picture: Cigarettes street vendor

A man’s craving for a cigarette has landed him in court when he stabbed a tuck shop vendor with a broken bottle after he was refused a free smoke.

23-year-old Peter Mbenge was found guilty of grievous bodily harm. He was convicted for stabbing Fredrick Mafumo, 51, in the stomach.

According to evidence given in court Mbenge is said to have assaulted Mafumo’s 15-year-old nephew who was selling in the shop.  “Paik my nephew called out to me to come and help, and fearing that he was in danger I ran out from the house bare footed to see what the problem was,” Mafumo explained.

He went on to tell the court: “When I got to the scene I found the accused beating him and forced myself between them to stop the fight. But the accused continued to throw blows, which I blocked with my right hand. Before I knew it he stabbed me in the left side of my stomach and I fell to the ground with my intestines hanging out.”

Mafumo sustained a cut 2 centimetres deep.

In his version of the story Mbenge said Mafumo did not ask him any questions but just started to assault him. “I ran away but the complaint followed and caught up with me. This is when the fracas ensued,” he said.

In passing judgement Magistrate Kgololesego Segabo concluded that the evidence suggested that the accused was in a fighting mood and was determined to beat Paik despite being deterred by the complaint.

“Also the accused was highly intoxicated on the night in question,” he said.

Mbenge was remanded in custody prior to sentencing next week.

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