Granny bewitched me to commit crime, says madman

AN Inyathi man believed to be mentally disturbed was hauled to court for allegedly inserting his fingers in his niece's private parts, claiming that he was committing the crime because his grandmother bewitched him.

Evetty Wilson, 33, of Siganda Village appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya and was charged on two counts of indecent assault.

The 18-year-old girl is a Form Four pupil.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on 2 February at about 6pm the victim was in a kitchen hut when Wilson entered and sat on the bench.
"Wilson entered the kitchen and sat on the bench then all of a sudden he pushed the victim to the ground and she fell down. He then went on top of her and the girl struggled to free herself but she could not.

"The victim kept on yelling for help but Wilson pinned her down. He then removed the victim's panties and inserted his fingers into the girl's private parts," he said.
In a bid to free herself, it is alleged the victim bit Wilson's right arm.

"Wilson was then disturbed by the victim's mother who responded to the girl's cry for help. She bolted out of the kitchen leaving him and her mother," said Mr Dlodlo.

Mr Dlodlo told the court that Wilson had committed a similar crime in 2014 claiming that he was bewitched by his grandmother who made him to be mentally ill, hence forcing him to commit the crime.

This time the 15-year-old victim was a Form Three pupil from Nkonyeni Village in Siganda.

"On 11 February 2014 a girl was walking alone from school and going home. As she was walking along a foot path in the bush Wilson approached her and they greeted each other. He then asked her if she was coming from school and she confirmed that.

"Wilson then grabbed the girl by her left arm and pulled her into a bush where he forced her to lie down. The girl kept on screaming for help but Wilson undressed her. He then removed her undergarments," he said.

Mr Dlodlo said Wilson was disturbed by a villager who responded to the girl's cry for help.

"Wilson fled from the scene but the villager was able to identify him before he left. He then took the girl and went to Wilson's homestead but they did not find him. They only saw sandals he was wearing during the commission of the crime. He was then arrested the following day," he said.

However, a psychiatrist at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Dr Elena Poskotchinova, said by the time Wilson committed the crime he was mentally ill and he cannot be held accountable for his actions.

"I examined the accused at Mlondolozi special institution and I also discovered his previous medical reports which show that he suffered from alcohol and drug abuse.

"He had mental illness probably schizophrenia. He underwent a course of treatment and he is a known psychiatric patient at Inyathi District Hospital where he was on treatment in 2013 but defaulted on medication.

"He admitted his two crimes of indecent assault but claimed that he was bewitched by his grandmother to be mentally ill, hence forcing him to commit crime," said Dr Poskotchinova.

She said when she examined the accused, he showed signs of being very psychotic and he was verbally and physically aggressive.

"He is dangerous to society (sexual offender with two crimes of attempting rape) and he needs special verdict to return (to society)," said Dr Poskotchinova.
Wilson was remanded in custody to 9 December.