Beverly Bizeki
A mentally challenged Masvingo woman who allegedly committed infanticide by killing her new born baby two weeks ago stunned the court when after being further remanded out of custody had to be dragged out of the court room by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).
The accused Ngonidzashe Mukanhairi (34) made her initial appearance in court for trial on May 11, 2023.
Mukanhairi stunned court officials when she said God only demands the truth which she was about to tell the court if she was given the chance to do so.
Although she was not asked to plead, she told the court that she was never pregnant but was however bewitched.
Mukanhairi of Mucheke suburb appeared before magistrate Rethagketsi Silaigwana facing infanticide charges and was remanded to May 23, 2023 for trial after a doctor’s examination of her mental state.
It is the State case according to Isabel Pambuka that the accused whose place of residence is unknown came to the informant’s place and asked for a place to stay.
It is alleged that the accused person who is believed to be a mental health patient and was pregnant gave birth on a date unknown to the prosecutor and killed the infant cutting its body parts into pieces.
The matter was however discovered on April 28, 2023 by Rosewita Mupfinho who discovered an unusual smell coming from the house and reported the matter to the police.
The baby’s remains were found in a plastic bag in the room.