News / Local
Woman body with a crushed head found dumped on railway line
16 Mar 2012 at 07:36hrs | Views
MYSTERY surrounds the death of a woman who was allegedly hit by a train at Bulawayo Main Railway Station on Friday night. The woman, who is believed to be between 16 and 20 years old, is suspected to have been hit by the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo train, which departed from platform four at the station at 7.40pm.
Witnesses said her body was discovered, surprisingly intact for a person hit by a train, lying between the rails at platform four soon after midnight on Saturday. Police confirmed the death yesterday and said investigations into the issue were under way.
"The body was discovered by Mr John Ncube (50), a yard foreman at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). He was reporting for duty soon after midnight when he saw the body lying inside platform four," said an NRZ employee who declined to be named.
The employee said the yard foreman reported the matter to a security guard, who in turn made a report to the police.
"We were told that the woman was hit by the Victoria Falls bound train, but we do not think it was true. Only the back of her skull was crushed and the woollen hat she was wearing was still on her head. Otherwise there were no visible injuries on her body. I think someone hit her on the head with a heavy object, and then planted her body inside the platform, to make it look like she had been hit by the train," said the employee.
Another worker said she had seen people who had been hit or run over by trains and the bodies were almost always left in pieces that were often difficult to identify.
"I doubt that this person was hit by a train, as we have been officially told," said the employee adding that a plastic bag containing a peach dress was found near the scene.
Contacted for comment, the acting police spokesperson for Bulawayo, Assistant Inspector Precious Simango, said police were investigating a sudden death in which a yet to be identified young woman, who could be between 16 and 20 years old, was crushed by a train. She could not confirm whether police suspected foul play, saying investigations were still under way.
"The deceased was wearing a black short, white blouse and a red woollen hat. We are appealing to members of the public who can help in identifying the victim to contact their nearest police station or call the 24-hour Bulawayo Provincial hotline, (09) 885479," said Asst Insp Simango.
Witnesses said her body was discovered, surprisingly intact for a person hit by a train, lying between the rails at platform four soon after midnight on Saturday. Police confirmed the death yesterday and said investigations into the issue were under way.
"The body was discovered by Mr John Ncube (50), a yard foreman at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). He was reporting for duty soon after midnight when he saw the body lying inside platform four," said an NRZ employee who declined to be named.
The employee said the yard foreman reported the matter to a security guard, who in turn made a report to the police.
Another worker said she had seen people who had been hit or run over by trains and the bodies were almost always left in pieces that were often difficult to identify.
"I doubt that this person was hit by a train, as we have been officially told," said the employee adding that a plastic bag containing a peach dress was found near the scene.
Contacted for comment, the acting police spokesperson for Bulawayo, Assistant Inspector Precious Simango, said police were investigating a sudden death in which a yet to be identified young woman, who could be between 16 and 20 years old, was crushed by a train. She could not confirm whether police suspected foul play, saying investigations were still under way.
"The deceased was wearing a black short, white blouse and a red woollen hat. We are appealing to members of the public who can help in identifying the victim to contact their nearest police station or call the 24-hour Bulawayo Provincial hotline, (09) 885479," said Asst Insp Simango.
Source - metro
