MARA: 6 months in jail for injuring cow

BY CORRESPONDENT

The Bunda District Court in Mara Region has sentenced Cosmas Makoro (62), a resident of Salamakati Village in Bunda District to six months in jail or a fine of 100,000/- for attacking a cow with a machete and injuring it badly.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Masoud Mohamed, told the court before Magistrate Safina Simfukwe that the accused had committed the crime on November 20, 2010 at around 12 noon at Salamakati Village.

Mohamed said that the cow was the property of Nyaboyenze Maage and that the accused attacked it on claims that the cow had entered his farm and destroyed some crops. 

He said that after the cow was badly injured it later died after losing lots of blood from the wound.

He said that when the agricultural extension officer went to inspect the farm, there was no sign of any crop destruction as it had been claimed by the defendant.

Following the evidence produced by the court, Magistrate Simfukwe said the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt with the evidence and therefore sentenced the man to six months in jail or pay a fine of 100,000/-.

Furthermore, Magistrate Simfukwe ordered the convict to compensate the cow owner immediately after serving the sentence.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (27/12/2012): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=49484