News / Regional
Woman 'sacrifices' third baby
10 May 2013 at 06:30hrs | Views
A 22-YEAR-OLD woman from Plumtree decided to "sacrifice" her new-born baby in a bid to have a good relationship with her family.
Thokozile Moyo revealed that she killed her third born baby because she was afraid that her family would disown her.
The accused was hauled before magistrate Livared Phillimon facing charges of contravening Section 48 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
The woman stunned the court when she revealed that she did the heinous act because she was afraid of her parents considering the fact that she had been impregnated by other two men who later dumped her.
She revealed that she acted out of severe pressure as she could not handle the stigma of having a third child without a marriage.
She was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended for five years on condition the accused is not convicted of any offence of which infanticide is an element committed within that period for which she is sentenced without the option of a fine.
A further 12 months imprisonment was suspended on condition the accused completed 420 hours of community service.
He considered that infanticide is a serious offence as it is Eterally murder and as such he said deterrent sentences are called for to deter both the accused and other like-minded people.
He also considered that in the circumstances imprisonment would be too severe for a young and unemployed mother who acted under severe social and economic pressure.
He said if she was sent to prison it would amount to double punishment as she is already stigmatised by her conduct and considered that community service would enable the accused to reflect on her conduct while serving her punishment. The circumstances as narrated by the prosecutor are that on 25 April, the accused gave birth at Luveve Clinic in Bulawayo.
The court heard that on 2 May, she went with the baby to her rural home in Sikhobokobo.
When she disembarked from a bus, on her way home she went into a bush near Ncwadi Seventh Day Adventist Church where she made a string from a Woolen hat, which she used to strangle the baby.
The court heard that she placed the body in a plastic bag and dumped it in the bush.
When she arrived home, her parents asked her about the pregnancy and she lied saying she had had a miscarriage three weeks back at Luveve Clinic.
The court heard that the matter came to light when dogs brought home the head of the dead infant.
A report was made to the police and investigations were done which led to the arrest of the accused.
Thokozile Moyo revealed that she killed her third born baby because she was afraid that her family would disown her.
The accused was hauled before magistrate Livared Phillimon facing charges of contravening Section 48 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
The woman stunned the court when she revealed that she did the heinous act because she was afraid of her parents considering the fact that she had been impregnated by other two men who later dumped her.
She revealed that she acted out of severe pressure as she could not handle the stigma of having a third child without a marriage.
She was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended for five years on condition the accused is not convicted of any offence of which infanticide is an element committed within that period for which she is sentenced without the option of a fine.
A further 12 months imprisonment was suspended on condition the accused completed 420 hours of community service.
He considered that infanticide is a serious offence as it is Eterally murder and as such he said deterrent sentences are called for to deter both the accused and other like-minded people.
He also considered that in the circumstances imprisonment would be too severe for a young and unemployed mother who acted under severe social and economic pressure.
He said if she was sent to prison it would amount to double punishment as she is already stigmatised by her conduct and considered that community service would enable the accused to reflect on her conduct while serving her punishment. The circumstances as narrated by the prosecutor are that on 25 April, the accused gave birth at Luveve Clinic in Bulawayo.
The court heard that on 2 May, she went with the baby to her rural home in Sikhobokobo.
When she disembarked from a bus, on her way home she went into a bush near Ncwadi Seventh Day Adventist Church where she made a string from a Woolen hat, which she used to strangle the baby.
The court heard that she placed the body in a plastic bag and dumped it in the bush.
When she arrived home, her parents asked her about the pregnancy and she lied saying she had had a miscarriage three weeks back at Luveve Clinic.
The court heard that the matter came to light when dogs brought home the head of the dead infant.
A report was made to the police and investigations were done which led to the arrest of the accused.
Source - B-Metro
