Judge wants insight on 'cannibal'

Sentencing proceedings are expected to continue on Wednesday in the case of a Zimbabwean man who pleaded guilty to stabbing Mbuyiselo Manona, removing his heart and allegedly eating it.

Western Cape High Court judge Ashley Binns-Ward scolded a prosecutor on Tuesday for failing to provide psychological insight into Andrew Chimboza.

Binns-Ward addressed prosecutor Jacqueline Sibiya after she called witnesses during the day in aggravation of Chimboza's sentence.

"How is the court supposed to consider a sentence without expert evidence into his behaviour?" asked Binns-Ward.

"In nearly 40 years, I have never been involved in a murder case where this has happened."

He added that the State had not charged Chimboza with desecration of a corpse.

Sibiya said a clinical psychologist in Pretoria had contacted her with advice and indicated it might take a month to compile a report.

Binns-Ward said expert opinion in the case was essential.

Both parties were expected to propose a way forward during proceedings on Wednesday.

Chimboza, who had a window-tinting business, on Monday pleaded guilty to killing Manona, as part of a plea agreement.

He stated in his plea explanation that he stabbed Manona to death at the home of a former client last year, after a disagreement. He said he was sorry for what he had done.

Arresting officer, Constable Mlungisi Landule, testified that he found a bloodied Chimboza cupping a heart in his hands and eating it.

Chimboza's lawyer Yasmine Rajap on Tuesday denied he had eaten pieces of the heart.