Man test HIV positive, beats up wife, give her rat poison

A BULILIMA man flew into a rage after testing HIV positive and battered his wife before trying to force her to take her life and that of their eight-month-old daughter.

Knowledge Ndlovu, 29, pleaded guilty to assault and threatening to commit murder when he appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate, Mzingaye Phanankosi Moyo.

Prosecutor Paul Mpofu then applied to refer the case to the Attorney General's Office for guidance on charges.

The court heard that on July 3, Ndlovu, from the Tshankwa area of Bulilima district, had a misunderstanding with his wife Mercy Mpofu, 23, over why she had gone to Brunapeg without his permission.

Ndlovu further accused her of infecting him with HIV and went on to viciously assault her.

Three days later he forced her to a wooded area on Kikings Farms where he ordered her to kill their daughter but she refused.

Ndlovu then ordered her to take what he described as rat poison. When she refused, he beat her up until she gave-in and ate the substance.

The following day Mpofu started passing blood-stained stools and decided to report the attack to the police leading to her husband's arrest.

According to the medical report, the substance she as forced to swallow was not rat poison, although Ndlovu maintained that is what he gave her.