Judge Flees Bulawayo Courtroom As Hissing Stray Cat Stages “Hostile Takeover”

A stray cat brought proceedings to a standstill at the Bulawayo High Court this week after it wandered into a murder trial and refused to leave, forcing the judge to abandon the courtroom.

 

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on 3 June during a special sitting of the High Court for the trial of Bright Tshuma, 19, of Nkulumane, who was facing a murder charge.

 

The NPA said a brown stray cat “slowly walked into the courtroom and unleashed a mournful, ear-piercing wail”, disrupting the session.

 

The presiding judge ordered a brief adjournment and instructed police to remove the animal, which was “continuously crying”.

 

What followed was described as a “comical scene” as four police officers, four prison guards and a caretaker tried to force the cat out.

 

As amused members of the public gathered at the door, the cat reportedly suffered “stage fright” and dashed from behind the dock to the judge’s table.

 

It then “neatly tucked itself under the judge’s bench” and reacted “in a hostile manner” to further removal attempts.

 

The NPA said the cat was “successful in its hostile takeover of the courtroom”, which was later abandoned. The trial continued in a different courtroom.

 

Tshuma was convicted of murder for stabbing the deceased with a “Colombia CCCP AK47 knife”. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a full trial.