HURUNGWE — A married couple was last week arrested over the murder of their two-year-old daughter whom they allegedly beat up for eating food left in their kitchen without her parents’ consent.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the arrest of Merjury Smart (20) and Stephen Mutandwa (34) over the murder of the toddler Christine.
Police said on the fateful day on Thursday last week at around 8pm at Whamira village 56 in Hurungwe, the toddler took a plate of sadza and started eating while her parents were outside the kitchen putting out a fire that had ignited. Upon their return, Smart got incensed by the child’s actions and started beating her up with a stick.
Mutandwa, who is step-father to the minor, reportedly joined in the assault.
The minor then sought refuge in the fowl run where she was later found by her step-father freezing to death.
“The step-father poured warm water on her,” said Mabgweazara, adding the now deceased’s condition continued to deteriorate and she died around 10am the next day.
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A police report was made at ZRP Magunje, who attended the scene with CID Karoi and discovered that the body had bruises on the chest, back and buttocks leading to the pair’s arrest.
The body was taken to Karoi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.