Victoria Falls man chops off mother’s head with axe

By Staff Reporter

A 36-year-old Victoria Falls man chopped off his 60-year-old mother’s head in a cold-blooded murder that left the community shocked.

Paul Jubane was however spared jail after High Court judge Christopher Dube-Banda concluded he killed Irene Jubane while insane.

He was sent to a psychiatric institution after conclusion of the case.

During his murder trial, the court heard that Paul killed his mother, Irene Jubane, for no reason on 24 June last year as his father watched helplessly.

He still lived at his parents’ homestead under Chief Mvuthu in Victoria Falls.

The State proved that on the day of the crime and at 8AM, the now late Irene was watering some vegetables at a family garden.

Paul suddenly emerged from his bedroom armed with an axe and began charging towards his now late parent.

“Without saying anything, accused struck the deceased once on the back of the head with the axe and deceased fell to the ground facing downwards,” the court heard.

“Accused further struck the deceased once on the back of the head as she was lying down.

“The axe remained stuck on the deceased’s head.”

His mother died on the spot.

The court further heard Paul was a known mental patient.

The court, with regard to the psychiatric report, concluded it was clear that at the time of the commission of the offence, Paul was suffering from a mental disorder as defined in the Mental Health Act.

The court settled for the verdict that Paul could not at law be held criminally liable for his conduct.

“In the circumstances, it is ordered that the accused is found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

“In terms of section 29(2)(a) of the Mental Health Act [Chapter 15:12], the accused is to be returned to prison pending transfer to an institution for treatment,” the judge ruled.

Banda however noted that Paul was still a danger to society.