Eight-year-old stabbed to death in Somabhula

POLICE in the Midlands Province have launched a manhunt for an unknown suspect who attacked a Somabhula family and stabbed to death an eightyear-old child and seriously injured the mother on Thursday last week.

Police spokesperson for the province Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident saying the reason for the attack was yet to be established. The incident, he said, happened while Loveletter Moyo — mother to the now deceased was sleeping with her five children in the same room at her homestead when an unknown suspect pounced and killed eight-year-old Landelihle Moyo and seriously injured Loveletter in the attack.

“The attack occurred at Plot 13, Dawson Farm in Somabhula, Gweru around 3am on Thursday. Our report indicate that an unknown person gained entry into Loveletter’s bedroom when she was sleeping with her five children. Her elder brother Vickson Sibanda was sleeping in a separate room and was awoken by loud screams coming from her sister’s bedroom. He rushed to investigate and found Loveletter bleeding profusely from a deep cut on the forehead and her left hand while Landelihle’s lifeless body was lying in a pool of blood with a deep cut on the forehead. The suspect had already fled the scene,” he said.

Loveletter sustained a deep cut on the forehead and lost a middle finger on her left hand during the scuffle. A report was made to Gweru Rural Police who attended the scene. Loveletter was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital together with the body of Landelihle.

Insp Mahoko said no property was taken when the suspect preyed on the family, adding that investigations were underway to establish the motive and arrest the suspect. He said police were appealing to members of the public for any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect.

ACROSS

4 Supporter of the press? (6)

7 The resort of a youth holding a weapon (8) 8 The rising of a smell (6)

10 Big order on the way (5)

13 Locate an assortment of ties (4)

14 Possibly sent home (4)

15 Roll’s given to dad with the fish (4)

16 Coal hole (3)

17 He may be an the tarmac (4)

19 Among the cheapest copies! (4)

21 Player with a great juvenile following (4,5) 23 Be a bit of a politician (4)

24 A model of durability? (4)

26 Man of Kent (3)

27 The course at the time in question (4) 29 Always the second person on the right (4) 32 Loud music, to be honest (4)

33 Like a number of ministers (5)

34 An element of blue (6)

35 Padre to whom a fellow had been lying (8) 36 Like National Service? (6)

DOWN

1 My boy’s name (5)

2 Attempts at conversion? (5)

3 Nothing but the highest regard (4)

4 I fish out something to sit on (5)

5 It’s pretty open staff (4)

6 Insect causing many a bad stain (6)

9 They’re much shouldered by the ladies (6) 11 Plead for Brideshead, for instance (3)

12 It looks bad when a fellow gets out of the line (5) 13 More than ample evidence of a girl’s skill (7) 15 Dog’s home? (3)

16 By showing some superiority (3)

18 Are such examinations oral? (6)

20 Pan that character! (5)

21 Happen to be halved by the writer (3)

22 What’s in a name? (3)

23 An officer spilt beer around earlier (6)

25 Strange man’s treasure (3)

28 Snag for film director given the bird? (5) 30 Figure most of Italy to be very important (5) 31 Straps on a horse (5)

32 Alfie’s no end upset when you let him down! (4) 33 The churchwarden type? (4)