Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
A 29-year-old Nkayi man has appeared in court accused of culpable homicide after allegedly lowering an 11-year-old boy into a well with a rope to retrieve a bucket, leading to the child’s drowning.
Prosper Dube, of Sivomo Village under Chief Madliwa, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mkandla facing a charge of culpable homicide.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to Monday for judgment.
Prosecuting, Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on April 16 at around midday, the accused allegedly instructed the now deceased, Siyabonga Sibanda (11), to assist in retrieving a bucket that had fallen into an approximately 15-metre-deep well.
The court heard that Dube had earlier gone to the well to fetch water when the bucket accidentally slipped and fell inside.
“As he was figuring ways to retrieve the bucket, the complainant’s mother warned him not to tamper around the well, advising him that it was dangerous,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that despite the warning, the accused allegedly called the juvenile to assist him.
It is alleged that Dube then lowered the boy into the well using a rope so he could recover the bucket.
“The now deceased complied with the instructions from the accused person. The accused then lowered the now deceased into the well using a rope. The now deceased subsequently drowned and died in the well,” said Ms Mutapi.
According to court proceedings, the boy’s body was later retrieved from the well and taken to Nkayi District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The post-mortem was conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals on April 20 and the cause of death was established as mechanical asphyxia and drowning,” said the prosecutor.
The post-mortem report was produced in court as exhibit.
The matter was later reported to the police, leading to Dube’s arrest.
