There was drama at the Bulawayo High Court special sitting when a brown stray cat slowly walked into the courtroom and unleashed a mournful, ear-piercing wail, disrupting proceedings.
The incident occurred on June 3.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the incident.
The judge had to take a brief adjournment, instructing that the police attend to the cat that was continuously crying.
A comical scene unfolded in the courtroom as 4 police officers, and 4 prison guards, and the caretaker tried to force the cat out.
The commotion acted like an irresistible magnet as amused members of the public gathered by the courtroom door.
Unfortunately, the growing audience only worsened the cat’s stage fright, causing it to dash from behind the accused person’s dock to the judge’s table.
The cat neatly tucked itself under the judge’s bench and responded in a hostile manner to further attempts made to remove it.
It was successful in its hostile takeover of the courtroom, which was then abandoned, and the matter continued to be heard in a different courtroom.
This happened during the trial of Bright Tshuma (19) of Nkulumane, Bulawayo, who was facing a murder charge, following an incident where he stabbed the deceased with a Colombian CCCP AK47 knife.
The offender was found guilty of murder after a full trial and was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
