Weekend Observer, Mbabane, 17 April 1999

Man, youths guilty of malicious damage to property

A 33 year-old man of Buseleni and two youths were found guilty of malicious damage to property by the Hlathikhulu Swazi National Court.

The man, Sunny Hleta and two boys aged 11 and 12 appeared before Court President Mahlabayidlele charged with causing the death of a cow which belonged to Chazile Dlamini of the same area.

The court was told that the three were called to come and retrieve a cow that was eating maize in the family fields.

It was heard that upon arrival they tied the cow to a tree and left to report it to the owner.

The court heard that the cow was restless and kept on jumping around.

The court was told that when the owner arrived she found the cow already dead.

Detective Constable Chris Dlamini who investigated the case told the court that he found the cow tied to a tree and already dead.

"I found the cow already dead because the rope had wound all around it. I am sure the cow was restless because it was isolated from others and tried to release itself but was throttled by the rope," he said.

Dlamini warned the three to take any stock to an area pound master instead of impounding it themselves and found them guilty as charged. He sentenced Hleta to six months or E60 fine and the youth to two strokes each.