Online Reporter
THE teenage boy, who endured the pain, torture and trauma of being locked up in a dirty room for three years at the family’s house in St Mary’s and died at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, was buried without a postmortem being carried out.
This might complicate the legal proceedings in which his father and stepmother were arrested for ill-treating him and could end up with his body being exhumed, legal experts told H-Metro.
Tinotenda Purumero, 16, was receiving specialist medical care at the hospital while waiting to be taken to a children’s home.
His father Herbert Purumero, 45, and his step mother, Memory Kamuchato, 40,
Herbert and Memory were sentenced to 24 months in prison by Chitungwiza Magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
Four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Herbert is the biological father of Tinotenda while Memory is his step-mother and they were staying at House Number 907 in St Mary’s.
Herbert separated from Tinotenda’s mother, who has since remarried.
Given Tinotenda’s death, there was a possibility the same court was going to review the charges against this heartless couple.
However, this might not be possible given that a postmortem was not conducted.
effective months in prison each.
Audrey Tasaranarwo, the Chitungwiza Central Hospital public relations officer, said there was no postmortem carried out.
“The postmortem was not conducted at all but his medical records shows that he died due to malnutrition. His relatives came and took his body and he was buried,” she said.
However, legal experts officials said a postmortem is required since this case had spilled into court.
“If the courts require the postmortem results, an exhumation of the body can be the way to go,” said a legal expert.
A court official who preferred anonymity said they deal with postmortem results, not medical records.
