Couple in court over child's death

A Harare couple on Monday appeared in court for neglecting their three-year-old child who died from injuries he sustained after being bitten by their employer's dogs.

It is alleged that the couple failed to take the boy to hospital, which resulted in his death. Paul Kanoyeredza (41) and Juliet Dawu (30) were facing culpable homicide and neglecting a child when they appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

They were remanded out of custody and will be back in court on May 14.

Allegations are that on February 13, 2015, at around midday, Dawu – who is stepmother to the deceased boy – was in the house.

The court heard that Dawu saw the boy being chased by their employer's dogs. As the boy was running for safety, it is alleged that he fell on top of a 2,8 metal gas stove which was inside the bedroom.

It is alleged that Dawu took the boy, who was lying on the floor and saw some dog bites all over his body and also discovered that he had lost three front teeth.

It is alleged that Dawu advised Kanoyeredza about the incident who examined the boy and saw the injuries.

The court heard that the couple failed to take the boy to hospital for treatment until February 17 when they found the boy lying on his stomach in the toilet bleeding through the mouth.

The couple, it is alleged, took the boy to the hospital but he died on the way.