Woman jailed for 'branding' urinating child

A 26-YEAR-OLD woman who "branded" her Grade One stepdaughter on the pelvis and right thigh with a red-hot metal cup for wetting her blankets has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Appearing before Kwekwe resident magistrate Taurai Manwere facing one count of domestic violence, was Lydia Mapokotera of Mbizo in Kwekwe.

The magistrate convicted Mapokotera on her own plea of guilty.

"The accused is sentenced to 12 months in prison of which four months are suspended on condition of good behaviour. The remaining eight months are suspended on condition she performs 280 hours of community service," said Manwere passing sentence yesterday

Prosecutor Michel Daraja told the court that on May 8, at around 10AM, the accused called her stepdaughter (name withheld) who was playing outside the house with her friends into the house.

The court heard that when the six-year-old girl got into the house, Mapokotera asked her why she had urinated in her blankets the previous night.

"The accused told the complainant that she wanted to assault her. The accused then placed an empty metal cup on a hot stove," said Daraja.

After getting satisfied that the metal cup was hot enough, the court heard that Mapokotera removed it from the stove before burning the child on the pelvis and right thigh.

The court heard that the defenceless girl sustained burns and was referred to Kwekwe District hospital where she is being treated.