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Man poisons son (8) in bid to avoid paying child support

by Staff reporter
02 Apr 2012 at 04:38hrs | Views
Police in Chinhoyi have arrested a 34-year-old man on allegations of attempting to kill his eight-year-old son in a bid to avoid paying child support.

Alimon Towonemo of Chikonohono township allegedly poisoned the boy's drink after arguing with his mother over the payment of a US$120 monthly maintenance bill.

The child is reportedly in a critical condition.

Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said Towonemo was still in police custody.

Inspector Mabgweazara said preliminary investigations show that Towonemo and the boy's mother, Pamela Chapotera (28), engaged in bitter exchanges after the former defaulted payment for two months.

The two were previously married.

On the day in question, he said, Towonemo allegedly gave the eight-year-old a cool drink after luring him out of class. The boy then returned to class and later had the drink.

Inspector Mabgweazara said he vomited, prompting him to narrate the sequence of events to his teacher. He was rushed to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where Towonemo was arrested while visiting a child he sired with another woman.

The police spokesman urged couples to seek amicable ways of resolving disputes.

"There are better ways of resolving differences," he advised.

Source - zimpapers