adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A 30-year-old woman, who is believed to be mentally disturbed, allegedly strangled her baby to death while they were sleeping at night.
The State represented by Getrude Zvidzai alleges that on September 27, 2013, Joice Ndebele of Job Ndebele’s homestead in Nhekiyana village in Esigodini killed her one-year-old baby, Priscilla Ndlovu, while the two slept at night.
Zvidzai narrated how Ndebele, who is also said to be violent, woke up and allegedly killed her child who was asleep.
“On 27 September this year during the night, the accused person who appears to be mentally disturbed was sleeping with her child and she strangled her to death,” Zvidzai said.
“She was the only one who was sleeping with the child in the blankets.”
The matter came to light the following morning when some family members realised that the baby did not wake up as usual.
“The offence was discovered in the morning by her grandmother. Investigations were carried out and results of the postmortem showed that the baby had died of strangulation,” said Zvidzai.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Ndebele’s arrest last week on December 19. Ndebele made an initial appearance before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe on Friday facing murder charges.
She was not asked to plead but was advised to apply for bail to the High Court and remanded in custody to January, 3, 2014.
Online Reporter