Man stabs granny (90) to death over an airtime recharge card

THE 32-year-old man from Masvingo's Runyararo suburb who last week allegedly stabbed his 91-year-old grandmother to death following an argument with his mother over a cellphone credit recharge card worth a dollar has appeared in court facing a murder charge.

Taurai Patrick Masache of 15575 Phillip Chatikobo Street was not asked to plead when he appeared before Masvingo magistrate Mr Langton Ndokera on Wednesday.

He was remanded in custody to 17 September.

It is the State case that on 30 August at about 6pm, Masache arrived home from a beer drink and demanded a recharge card from his mother.

His mother who sells recharge cards told him that he should pay first but he said he did not have money, the court was told.

Masache allegedly kept quiet and later stole the recharge card worth a dollar.

The court was told that his mother saw him steal the card and she confronted him demanding that he either pays or returns the recharge card.

A misunderstanding ensued between the two and in a fit of rage Masache allegedly slapped his mother several times on the face.

The mother fled from the house and went to report the matter to her brother who lives in the neighbourhood.

Realising that Masache had assaulted his mother, the wheelchair-bound grandmother, Adita Mhlaleli warned him against beating his mother saying it was a taboo, the court was told.

Masache allegedly turned to his grandmother and stabbed her several times on the face and forehead with a kitchen knife.

When his mother returned she found Mhlaleli lying unconscious in a pool of blood with stab wounds on the face and forehead.

Mhlaleli was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where she died on admission.