News / National
Woman accused of killing her 3 children gets suspended sentence
06 Feb 2013 at 05:25hrs | Views
A 37-YEAR-OLD Bikita woman escaped jail with a wholly-suspended five-year term of imprisonment for causing the death of her three sons after feeding them with roasted treated maize seed.
Fungai Tafirenyika of Kudzinesa Village in Mabika communal lands, Bikita, out of desperation, fed her children Trust (4), George (4) and Kefasi (7) Muishi with roasted treated maize seed, resulting in their death 10 years ago.
The children had complained of hunger when Tafirenyika decided to wash and roast the treated maize for a meal.
She pleaded guilty to three counts of culpable homicide when she appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Esther Muremba last week.
In sentencing Tafirenyika, the magistrate noted that the woman acted out of desperation as she wanted to save them from grinding poverty.
The magistrate said Tafirenyika had acted in good faith since she wanted to feed her children who were complaining of hunger, adding that there was no reasonable suspicion that she wanted to kill them.
She also considered that Tafirenyika will be traumatised and haunted by the death of her children for the rest of her life.
Agreed facts were that on December 11, 2002, Tafirenyika was at her matrimonial home in Bikita with her three sons when they complained of hunger.
Tafirenyika, who had very limited education before her marriage to the father of her sons, did not have any food to give the children after the husband had deserted her a few months back.
In desperation, Tafirenyika decided to wash some treated maize seed which she then roasted at her homestead and shared with her sons.
Tragedy struck after her sons suddenly fell sick and died a few hours later as a result of the poison from the treated maize seed. Tafirenyika surrendered herself to Bikita police.
Ms Sophia Bhusvumani appeared for the State.
Fungai Tafirenyika of Kudzinesa Village in Mabika communal lands, Bikita, out of desperation, fed her children Trust (4), George (4) and Kefasi (7) Muishi with roasted treated maize seed, resulting in their death 10 years ago.
The children had complained of hunger when Tafirenyika decided to wash and roast the treated maize for a meal.
She pleaded guilty to three counts of culpable homicide when she appeared before Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Esther Muremba last week.
In sentencing Tafirenyika, the magistrate noted that the woman acted out of desperation as she wanted to save them from grinding poverty.
The magistrate said Tafirenyika had acted in good faith since she wanted to feed her children who were complaining of hunger, adding that there was no reasonable suspicion that she wanted to kill them.
She also considered that Tafirenyika will be traumatised and haunted by the death of her children for the rest of her life.
Agreed facts were that on December 11, 2002, Tafirenyika was at her matrimonial home in Bikita with her three sons when they complained of hunger.
Tafirenyika, who had very limited education before her marriage to the father of her sons, did not have any food to give the children after the husband had deserted her a few months back.
In desperation, Tafirenyika decided to wash some treated maize seed which she then roasted at her homestead and shared with her sons.
Tragedy struck after her sons suddenly fell sick and died a few hours later as a result of the poison from the treated maize seed. Tafirenyika surrendered herself to Bikita police.
Ms Sophia Bhusvumani appeared for the State.
Source - TH
