High Court Judge Helena Charhua has acquitted a Chiredzi woman who called a six-month-old baby a goblin before slamming his head into the ground and later slitting his throat of murder.
Morelessing Magomana (34) from Chiredzi is one of three people acquitted of murder on Monday by reason of insanity under section 29(2)(a) of the Mental Health Act [Chapter 15:12].
In Latest Makasi (29), another mentally disabled Masvingo man hit his niece Rosemary Mudadegwa (4) with shovels several times on the head leading to her death.
Makasi was also facing a charge of attempted murder after he hit his nephew (5) once on the head with the same pickaxe.
Muzondiwa Phanganani (68 years old), from Mwenezi, hit his younger brother Kephas Ngwenya (49 years old) with a log on the head and on the left side of his body several times, which led to his death.
All three are represented by Tatenda Nyoka on a professional basis.
The first incident occurred on May 13, 2020, at around 1pm at Rushangarumwe, on an area of ​​three hectares, in the Buffalo Range area of ​​Chiredzi.
Circumstances indicate that Magumana broke into Primrose Tirivavi’s bedroom hut where her son Tanatswa Masikiti was sleeping. The bedroom door was wide open.
Magumana used a kitchen knife and slapped Terevavi for breastfeeding a goblin. She grabbed Tanatsu and slammed him to the ground twice.
Terefavi grappled with Magumana and regained Tanatswa. She then ran to a neighbour’s house but Magumana caught up with her and took Tanatswa by force.
Magumana smashed Tanatsuwa to the ground and cut his throat with a kitchen knife. She carried him to a nearby field where she continued to slaughter him until villagers arrived and arrested her.
The Makasi incident occurred on May 28, 2019, at around 7am, in Gwatinya village, Mapanzor chief in Masvingo.
The circumstances are such that Makasi, Rosemary Mudadigwa (4) and Ruvarashi Makasi (5) where left in the care of Rumbidzai Mudadigwa.
Makasi began stoning the cattle that were in the kraal and Rumbidzai tried to calm him down. Makasi got angry and started throwing stones at her.
Rumbidzai took the young children and locked them in a kitchen hut before running to get help from her father.
Macasi went to the granary and took the pick. He broke the door of the kitchen hut and hit Rosemary on the head, causing her death. He then hit Ruvarashi once on the head and she sustained serious injuries.
He was arrested by Levi Mudadegwa.
Vanganai hit his brother Kephas Ngwenya when he tried to stop him from throwing his furniture.
The incident occurred on March 26, 2022, in Chunguviza village, Maranda Chief in Mwenezi at around 3pm.
Vanganai was with his wife, Nitsai Shumba, and began throwing away their furniture. She tried to stop him and he attacked her with his fists.
Ntsay ran to Ngwenya’s house and told him what Fangani was doing. They returned home together and Vanganai assaulted Ngwenya with a piece of wood several times on his head and left side of his body which led to his death.
