Man beheads sister for US$4 000 payment

A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Chief Matau’s area in Hurungwe West allegedly beheaded his sister on Friday after being promised US$4 000 for it by a businessman.

Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the suspected murderer used a knife and an axe to hack his sister’s head off.

“People must not be used to commit ritual murders in the name of quick money,” he said.

The businessman who allegedly asked for the head for ritual purposes, was rescued by the police as villagers bayed for his blood and demanded that he meet the same end as the deceased 40-year-old woman. It is alleged that the 20-year-old suspect, whose name is being withheld as investigations continue, took advantage of the absence of other family members who had gone to a prayer meeting.

The young man allegedly entered his sister’s bedroom and decapitated her. He reportedly placed the head in a satchel and went to Zvipani Business Centre and left it in a Toyota Camry believed to be owned by the businessman. When their mother returned from church, she discovered her daughter’s headless body in a pool of blood.

The suspected killer joined other mourners at the homestead but bloodstains on his clothing raised suspicions. He reportedly claimed the stains were a result of a fistfight with his brother.

“The brother denied that he fought with his sibling. The story then changed as the suspect claimed the blood stains were from a chicken which was slaughtered the previous day,” said a relative who preferred not to be named.

Under pressure, he allegedly confessed to the murder and led the family to Zvipani where he retrieved the head from the businessman’s premises.