Baby suckles mum’s corpse after brutal murder

A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Gweru is on the run after allegedly killing his wife in cold blood and leaving their six-month-old son suckling from the corpse. The incident happened last Saturday. According to neighbours, the baby allegedly suckled and cuddled the mother’s body for nearly 24 hours.

They said the horrific murder was only discovered on Sunday at around 7PM when the baby started crying.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident on Monday saying police had launched a manhunt for the suspect, Tanaka Rusike.

She said Nozipho Tecla Mpofu (21)’s body was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary for a postmortem.

“Police in Gweru are investigating a murder case in which a 21-year-old woman, Nozipho Tecla Mpofu, died after she was battered to death by her husband, Tanaka Rusike.

“Circumstances are that on Saturday 16 December 2017 at around 7 PM, the now deceased and her husband, both of whom stayed in Senga suburb’s Nehosho section, Gweru, had a quarrel resulting in the husband bashing the wife to death,” she said.

Ass Insp Mukwende said Ms Mpofu’s body was discovered on Sunday at around 7PM when neighbours went to the house to check on the baby which was crying.

“The woman’s body was found lying on the bed with her six-month-old baby. Neighbours then reported the matter to the police,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said police who attended the scene discovered that Ms Mpofu had bled from both the mouth and nose.

“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of Rusike to contact their nearest police station,” she said.