/ 20 September 2001

WOMAN STABBED OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE

A NORTHERN Province man who allegedly stabbed his estranged common-law wife just moments after appearing in court for violating a protection order against him, was remanded in custody on Wednesday. Lazarus Sirovheli (36) of Madzhatsha village in Dzanani, near Thohoyandou, was not asked to plead on an attempted murder charge in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of stabbing his common-law wife, E Phaswana (24) just 300 metres outside the same court on Monday morning. The couple had just appeared in the family court regarding the protection order and began arguing in the street. A policeman said: “Just 300 metres from the court’s premises the couple had an argument and the accused allegedly drew a jungle knife and stabbed her several times in the body and left her lying on the ground”. Phaswana is in a critical condition in hospital. – African Eye News Service