Stepmom jailed 14 months for brutal assault on 3-year-old stepdaughter
CHEGUTU – In a heartbreaking child abuse case, a Chegutu woman has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for brutally assaulting her 3-year-old stepdaughter.
The accused person whose identity remains undisclosed to safeguard the minor’s privacy was arraigned before the Chegutu Magistrates’ Court for contravening the Children’s Act (Chapter 5:06).
The State’s case is that on July 9, 2024, around 1400 hours, the informant saw the three-year-old complainant crawling, unable to walk, and drew closer to investigate further.
Upon inquiry, the informant discovered that the complainant’s body was severely swollen all over.
The court heard that the informant rushed the minor to Chegutu hospital where she was admitted for three days due to the severity of her injuries.
Investigations revealed that the accused physically abused the complainant.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
The accused person acted unlawfully.
