Stepchild killer jailed five years

A MAN from Lupane who fatally assaulted his stepdaughter to death after accusing her of breaking a key to one of their huts has been jailed for five years.

Livious Ncube (40) of Moya Village in Tiki area, Lupane also scalded the seven-year-old girl on the buttocks when he tried to render her first aid.

Ncube was initially charged with murder which was later reduced to culpable homicide.

He pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo who is on circuit in Hwange.

The judge sentenced Ncube to an effective five years in jail saying he had failed to act as a father when disciplining the girl.

Justice Moyo said Ncube used excessive force when he assaulted the little girl all over the body with a switch and punched her on the face and head.

Prosecuting, Mrs Charline Murove-Gorerino said Ncube beat up the girl at around 8AM on January 8 last year before she fell unconscious four hours later and died on the following day.

The girl’s mother, Ms Petronella Phiri (34), found her dead when she returned home from Jotsholo Clinic where she had gone to get her some medication.

“On January 8, 2017, the accused assaulted the now deceased with a stick several times all over the body for having damaged keys to one of the bedroom huts. He also used fists to beat the girl on the head and face while questioning her why she was crying,” said the prosecutor.

The court heard that after assaulting the girl, Ncube boiled some water which he used to render first aid on her.

In the process the girl accidentally sat in the basin with hot water and burnt her buttocks.

She died on the following day and Ncube alerted some neighbours who approached Tiki Primary School head, Mr Winfred Manyeruke to assist by reporting to the police.— @ncubeleon.