By Staff writer
A 47 year old Gweru man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his one-year-old stepchild, the ZRP has confirmed.
The suspect, Itai Ticharwa of Mkoba 4 suburb in Gweru is currently in police custody.
According to the ZRP, the incident happened on the morning of Friday 29 September at Ticharwa’s residence.
The mother of the child had gone to fetch water at a nearby water point leaving behind the child in the custody of Ticharwa.
He is alleged to have strangled the baby before giving back the child to the mother upon her return.
“It is alleged that Itai Ticharwa of Mkoba 4 Gweru was left in custody of the now deceased baby as his wife went to a nearby borehole to fetch some water,” ZRP midlands spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said.
“Upon her return, Ticharwa’s wife found him holding the baby and instructed her to breast feed the baby. As soon as held the baby Ticharwa’s wife realized that the baby was groaning in pain and she screamed shouting that her baby had been strangled thereby alerting the neighbors and some police officers who were passing by.”
Ticharwa was subsequently arrested whike the body of the deceased was taken to the hospital for postmortem.
