Teen, 17, fatally stabs aunt over p*rnography

A FORM Three pupil at St Bernard's High School in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing his aunt after she confiscated his cellphone.

The pupil aged 17 from Pumula South suburb, allegedly killed his 46-year old aunt with a kitchen knife on Wednesday evening over the cellphone which was said to contain p*rnographic material.

The teenager lived with his aunt because his mother is in South Africa where she works.

He is alleged to have stabbed the aunt once in her left cheek and under her left eye.

Relatives said the pupil was unruly as he absconded from school, kept p*rnographic material in his cellphone and sometimes spent days away from home.

Bulawayo police spokesperson inspector Precious Simango said the pupil was in police custody.

"We've arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the murder and he will soon appear in court facing murder charges," said Insp Simango.

She encouraged parents to seek professional help whenever they see their children misbehaving.

"We're appealing to parents and guardians to seek services of churches, social services, neighbourhood committee members and even the police whenever they see their children showing wayward behaviour," she said.

A spokesperson for the murdered woman's family, Cephas Ncube, said the juvenile was very unruly. He said after killing his aunt, he tried to cover up his tracks by ransacking the house to give an impression that someone else had attacked her, before calling for help from neighbours.

"He called neighbours telling them that his aunt had been stabbed. He ransacked the house in the hope of making neighbours believe his story. However, he also had a cut on his hand that sold him out," he said.