I only slapped her, says pregnant wife 'killer'

A BULAWAYO man assaulted his "cheating" pregnant wife resulting in her death soon after giving birth following a domestic feud over the paternity of their unborn child.

The woman, who was 39 weeks pregnant, was forced to prematurely deliver the baby through a surgical incision due to the assault.

Siphiwe Ngwenya (26) of Nketa 6 suburb slammed his wife, Ntandoyenkosi Sibanda (23) against a wall several times, struck her with a stone on the head before punching and kicking her on the stomach.

Ngwenya appeared before the Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Sibanda last year in November.

Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu said on November 17 last year at around 11PM, Sibanda was at home asleep when her husband arrived and woke her up.

Ngwenya confronted his wife and started shouting, accusing her of cheating on him. During the altercation, Ngwenya also accused his wife of having been impregnated by her alleged boyfriend only identified as Melusi.

"During the dispute, the accused person picked an electric heater and struck the deceased twice on the head while holding a stone on the other hand," said Mr Ndlovu.

The court heard that Ngwenya dragged his wife to a neighbour's house.

On arrival she screamed for help and the owner of the house Ms Sibonisiwe Ndlovu opened the door and Ngwenya continued assaulting his wife and shouting at her.

"The deceased tried to run into the house but her husband caught up with her and continued to assault her on the face and head. Ms Ndlovu tried to beg Ngwenya to stop assaulting Sibanda but he did not heed the plea," said Mr Ndlovu.

Ms Ndlovu called other occupants at the house and they escorted Ngwenya and Sibanda out of their yard. Ngwenya continued to attack his wife during which he picked a stone and struck her once on the head.

"The accused removed his leather belt from the waist and assaulted the deceased several times and she bled through the nose. He then dragged her back to their home where he continued to assault her and kicked her once on the stomach," said the prosecutor.

Ngwenya took out the deceased's clothes and threw them at her before continuing to assault her until a Ms Madaly Ben, who is a tenant at the house, got out of  bed and tried to restrain the accused person.

The court heard that Ngwenya took his wife back to their bedroom where he interrogated her about the paternity of their unborn child. During the scuffle, Ngwenya poured his urine on Sibanda's head before striking her with a broom three times on the left shoulder.

Neighbours and other tenants heard her screams and called an ambulance, which came and took Sibanda to Mpilo Central Hospital where doctors conducted an emergency Caesarean section to save the baby. Sibanda delivered a baby girl. Sibanda succumbed to her injuries 11 days later.

Doctors who examined her body said she sustained severe head injuries, deep lacerations on her left ear and swollen shoulders. She also suffered injuries on the abdomen and chest and was badly traumatised. According to post mortem results, the cause of her death was post Caesarian section assault, septicaemia and puerperal sepsis.

Neighbours and relatives who took to the witness stand yesterday told the court that the woman's injuries were severe and gruesome. They said Sibanda's clothes were blood soaked.

In his defence through his lawyer, Miss Sisa Sihwa, Ngwenya said he only slapped his wife before using a belt to assault her after he found her standing outside their yard with her boyfriend.

He denied kicking her on the stomach and striking her with a stone and an electric heater.

"I also assaulted her with fists on the head and interrogated her about the paternity of the unborn child. I admit that I assaulted my wife but I deny that her death was caused by the assault," said Ngwenya.

The trial continues today.