THE STATE v LUCIA PHIRI

HB 148.20

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Case Details

Court

Bulawayo High Court

Date

27 May 2020

Citation

HB 148.20

Neutral Citation

[2020] ZWHB 148

Outcome

unknown

Case Type

Trial

Bench

Presiding

KABASA J

Full Bench

KABASA JMr E Shumba (Assessor)Mr A Mpofu (Assessor)

Areas of Law

Criminal LawCriminal Procedure

Keywords

MurderSelf DefenceIntentCredibilityStabbing

Key Issues

{"issue_text":"Whether the accused delivered the stab wounds in a bid to save herself from an unlawful attack (i.e., whether she was acting in self-defence).","issue_type":"law","dispositive":"yes","related_facts":"The accused's claim of self-defence versus the evidence of the state witnesses and the accused's own warned and cautioned statement."}
{"issue_text":"Whether the accused had the requisite intent for murder.","issue_type":"law","dispositive":"yes","related_facts":"The use of a lethal weapon (knife) and the location of the stab wounds."}

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Facts of the Case

Background

The accused and deceased were drinking at a bar and had a misunderstanding. The accused borrowed a knife and later stabbed the deceased twice, causing her death. The accused claimed she acted in self-defence, but the court found her to be the aggressor and convicted her of murder.

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