News / Local
Teen 'burns' granny to death
15 Aug 2015 at 10:46hrs | Views
A 17-year-old boy from Lobengula West suburb in Bulawayo allegedly assaulted his 79-year-old grandmother and set fire to her bedroom, burning her to death.
Police arrested the boy following the death of his grandmother on Wednesday night.
Sources close to the incident alleged that the teen and his grandmother had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed amount of money sent from the diaspora.
The boy told police he pushed his grandmother and she hit her head against a dressing table.
He said a candle which was on the table then fell on her bed and set it on fire.
The boy reported the fire incident to the police who upon investigating the matter suspected foul play and arrested him.
Neighbours said the teen was living with his late granny and great grandmother who is 96-years-old.
"What boggles the mind is that his 96-year-old great-grandmother escaped the inferno while the 79-year-old granny was burnt to death. It seems the granny died because of suffocation," said the source.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, police spokesperson, Inspector Precious Simango said police suspected foul play.
"The boy reported the fire incident to the police and when investigation were conducted, it emerged that there could be foul play. We're holding the boy who is assisting us with investigations," said Insp Simango.
She declined to comment further saying it might jeopardise investigations.
A family spokesperson who identified himself as FD Sithole said the family did not suspect the boy is responsible for his grandmother's death.
"We can't point fingers at the boy. Of course he had a misunderstanding with his grandmother but we don't know what really happened," said Sithole.
"I stay at Imbizo (barracks) so when the house caught fire the boy called me and I rushed to the house only to find the grandmother dead," he said.
He refused the news crew permission to photograph the burnt room saying police told him not to allow anyone in the room.
Police arrested the boy following the death of his grandmother on Wednesday night.
Sources close to the incident alleged that the teen and his grandmother had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed amount of money sent from the diaspora.
The boy told police he pushed his grandmother and she hit her head against a dressing table.
He said a candle which was on the table then fell on her bed and set it on fire.
The boy reported the fire incident to the police who upon investigating the matter suspected foul play and arrested him.
Neighbours said the teen was living with his late granny and great grandmother who is 96-years-old.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, police spokesperson, Inspector Precious Simango said police suspected foul play.
"The boy reported the fire incident to the police and when investigation were conducted, it emerged that there could be foul play. We're holding the boy who is assisting us with investigations," said Insp Simango.
She declined to comment further saying it might jeopardise investigations.
A family spokesperson who identified himself as FD Sithole said the family did not suspect the boy is responsible for his grandmother's death.
"We can't point fingers at the boy. Of course he had a misunderstanding with his grandmother but we don't know what really happened," said Sithole.
"I stay at Imbizo (barracks) so when the house caught fire the boy called me and I rushed to the house only to find the grandmother dead," he said.
He refused the news crew permission to photograph the burnt room saying police told him not to allow anyone in the room.
Source - chronicle
