Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi | A 26-year-old man hit his father-in-law with an axe handle following a domestic dispute with his wife.

Phineas Chimbudzi of Mapuranga Village under Chief Chitanga took an axe handle and struck his father-in-law who had visited the couple, hoping to resolve the domestic dispute in which Chimbudzi accused his wife of adultery.

The matter was heard before Magistrate Honest Musiiwa last week.

Representing the State, Prosecutor, Willard Chari told the court that on February 10,2017, Chimbudzi’s father-in-law, Solomon Kunguru visited the couple’s homestead, hoping to resolve the raging domestic dispute.

Chimbudzi accused Kunguru of meddling in his family issues. He took an axe handle and assaulted the latter all over his body.

Kunguru sustained a swollen arm and bruises.

Chimbudzi pleaded guilty and asked for clemency from the magistrate. He said he was willing to apologise to his father-in-law.

“The misunderstanding emanated from a text message. I then suspected my wife was having an adulterous affair. Kunguru armed himself with a machete and came to my house.

He struck me first and I retaliated. I assaulted him and told him he was defending his promiscuous daughter. He later returned and took away his daughter.

“However I must admit that I acted out of emotion. I want to apologise for what I did,” said Chimbudzi.

He was fined $ 80 or alternatively 30 days in prison.