Vusumuzi Dube
Natasha Sipindiye, Sunday News Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman is on the run after she assaulted and fatally hit her stepdaughter’s head against the wall for allegedly refusing to wake up and go to the toilet.
The accused, Priscilla Muchape of North End suburb is said to have been enraged by her step-daughter the now deceased Jane Zhou’s refusal to go the toilet when she woke her up.
Her husband David Zhou (47) is now a co-accused in the case after he lied that the girl had a history of epilepsy and that she suffered severe fits that led to her collapsing and hitting her head against the wall.
He was arrested on 2 June and appeared before Ms Nomagugu Maphosa at the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts the following day after his arrest.
The State alleges that the now deceased Janet Zhou and her elder sister Jane Zhou lived with their father and stepmother, Priscilla Muchape.
The prosecutor, Mrs Ashley Dube said on 26 May during the night, Muchape woke up the girl so that she could go to the toilet and she refused.
This did not go down well with her so she then slapped her and kicked her on the stomach several times before she started hitting her head against the wall.
The girl screamed once and became unconscious which prompted her father to wake up and try to render first aid but to no avail.
He then rushed her to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he presented a false medical history which stated that she was an epilepsy patient who had suffered severe fits which caused her to collapse and hit her head against the wall.
A witness, however, testified that when the father tried to render first aid, he was well aware that his daughter had been assaulted by Muchape which led to her collapse and eventual death.
Investigations have shown that the girl had no medical history of epilepsy or fits contrary to what the accused person had told the medical personnel at UBH.
The court opposed bail saying if released he might interfere with the efforts to account for his wife.
Online Reporter