A Bulawayo kombi driver who slapped a passenger for vomiting in his kombi resulting in the victim falling and hitting his head against the tarmac causing his death six days later, was yesterday convicted of culpable homicide.

Donmore Simende (36) assaulted Mr Rodney Siwela (28) at a commuter buses terminus in the city resulting in his death six days later.

A court heard that Simende slapped Mr Siwela once and he fell and hit his head against the tarmac.

Mr Siwela spent a night lying unconscious at the terminus and he was only rushed by an ambulance to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) the following morning. Mr Siwela who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), died six days later.

Simende who pleaded not guilty was however convicted by Mr Crispen Mberewere. He was remanded in custody to Monday for sentencing.

“You have been found guilty of culpable homicide not murder because it wasn’t your intention to kill. You however neglected the deceased person and this caused his death. You have been found guilty of neglecting the now deceased leading to his death. You should have rushed the deceased to hospital when you realised that he had been injured following the assault,” he said.