Mental-ill child killer spared jail, sent to hospital

BULAWAYO - A mad man who killed his neighbour's 12-year-old son by stabbing him several times all over his body, claiming he heard strange voices that were ordering him to commit the crime has been spared jail after a High Court judge ruled that he was insane when he committed the crime.

Justice Lawrence Kamocha ruled that Sikhumbuzo Moyo, 25, who suffers from mental illness  and had previously been admitted at Ingutsheni Hospital could not be held legally responsible for the crime.

Justice Kamocha ordered that Moyo who appeared before him yesterday charged with the murder of Josphat Mhere be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

The judge, relying on a medical report, said Moyo suffered from auditory hallucinations and delusions due to chronic schizophrenia, a mental disorder is often characterised by abnormal social behaviour and failure to recognise what is real.

Prosecuting, Angeline Munyeriwa said on December 31, 2012, shortly after 8PM, Moyo left his parents' home in Njube on the pretext that he was going to Entumbane for a church service. As he was walking down the street, he spotted Josphat who was playing with other boys in the neighbourhood. He persuaded the boy to accompany him to church.

"As they walked towards a public toilet in Njube's D-Square, Moyo pulled out a kitchen knife from his pocket and stabbed the boy several times all over his body and he collapsed and died," said Munyeriwa.

The court heard that soon after committing the crime, Moyo fled the scene but was later apprehended.