Step-parents from hell : Couple accused of torturing, starving 12-year-old boy
BEITBRIDGE – A 53-year-old man and his 32-year-old wife were recently remanded in custody on charges of attempting to murder their 12-year-old stepson, whom they allegedly subjected to physical torture and assault due to their disdain for having a male child.
The couple, whose identities have been withheld to protect the minor’s identity, appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms. Charity Maphosa facing charges of attempted murder as defined in Section 189 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutor Mr. Willbrought Muleya alleged that the couple perpetrated a series of heinous abuses against the 12-year-old boy between June and September this year.
The boy was reportedly subjected to severe physical and emotional abuse, including starvation and brutal beatings with bicycle chains, hot wires and logs.
In one particularly disturbing incident, the couple allegedly tied the boy to a tree and assaulted him, revealing a deep-seated disdain for having a male child in their home.
The abuse was allegedly discovered in September when the man took the injured child to his biological father in Ngundu, Masvingo province, who then sought medical treatment for the boy at Mwenezi Hospital and reported the matter to the police.
The couple is set to stand trial on December 4.
The case highlights the urgent need for vigilance and intervention in cases of child abuse. It’s crucial that authorities and communities work together to identify and support vulnerable children, and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
