Stepmother in court for child abuse

A 21-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo woman allegedly indiscriminately assaulted her 10-year-old stepson on several occasions and also denied him food.

Western Commonage resident magistrate, Mr Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe, heard this when the woman from Cowdray Park appeared before him facing a charge of ill-treating and neglecting a young person as defined in section 7(1) of the Children’s Act, Chapter 5:06

She was remanded out of custody to August 23 on US$50 bail.

Prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo, said sometime between July 1 and August 4, the woman assaulted her stepson on several occasions and denied him food.

“The matter came to light on August 4 at around 7am when a neighbour became suspicious after spotting the victim with a swollen face,” he said.

When quizzed, the boy revealed that he had been assaulted and denied food on several occasions by his stepmother.

A report was made to the police leading to the woman’s arrest. The victim was taken to the hospital for medical examination.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Bulawayo man appeared in court for allegedly sodomising his 13-year-old nephew.

The accused who cannot be named, appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla facing a charge of aggravated indecent assault. He was remanded in custody to today for continuation of trial.

Prosecutor Ms Christine Manyika said on July 25, the complainant and his uncle were sleeping on the same bed when the accused allegedly sodomised his nephew who immediately woke up.

“The complainant stormed out of the room and informed his aunt who was sleeping in the next room. The matter was reported to the police leading to the man’s arrest,” she said.

The complainant was taken to hospital for a medical examination. The medical report, which was produced in court as evidence, stated that the minor had sustained bruises on his anal area.

In his defence, the accused who is a self-actor, denied the charges, arguing that his brother’s wife fabricated the story as a way of fixing him for allegedly resisting her sexual advances.

He also told the court that his brother’s wife had been seducing him for a long time, claiming that her husband was failing to satisfy her in bed.

“When I continually resisted her moves, she threatened me by claiming she would get me arrested. Sometime in June, my brother’s wife attempted to seduce me when she barged into my bedroom wrapped in a towel and sat on the bed,” said the man.

“When I resisted her sexual advances, she took my phone and threw it inside a pot with boiling water.”