News / Regional
Man bludgeons wife to death in infidelity row
19 Mar 2015 at 07:53hrs | Views
A BEITBRIDGE driver bludgeoned his wife of 22 years to death with an iron bar, accusing her of having an extra marital affair with their neighbour, a court heard.
Jestern Muleya, 46, who was employed by Beitbridge District Hospital, allegedly killed his wife Matshiliso Christina Muleya, a nurse aide aged 37, after accusing her of cheating on him with Lovemore Tapera.
Matshiliso died allegedly while the couple's son, 17, banged on a locked bedroom door, begging his father to stop assaulting her.
On July 30, last year, Muleya allegedly armed himself with an iron bar following a misunderstanding with Matshiliso after she came home late.
Muleya would not accept the explanation that she was coming from a funeral.
He allegedly repeatedly struck her on the head with the iron bar until she fell unconscious while bleeding from the mouth and nose.
Muleya appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Gloria Takundwa charged with murder.
He was remanded him in custody pending a High Court trial date.
Nomathemba Sayi, for the State told the court that on July 30 at around 9.40PM, Muleya arrived home and found his wife absent.
She turned up later and told Muleya she was coming from a funeral wake.
The two started quarrelling in their bedroom as Muleya accused his wife of cheating on him, the court heard.
Sayi said Matshiliso denied the allegations and during the altercation, Muleya took a galvanised iron bar which was leaning against the wall near the door and struck his wife several times all over her body and she fell down.
She said Matshiliso sustained severe head injuries and her face was left a bloody mess.
"On realising that he had killed his wife, Muleya escaped through the window dressed only in a pair of shorts and disappeared," said Sayi.
Muleya's son - who was not named in court - reportedly managed to get a neighbour to assist him to break down the door and they took his mother's motionless body to hospital.
Matshiliso was declared dead on arrival and Muleya was arrested the next day.
The metal bar that Muleya allegedly used to commit the crime will be presented as an exhibit in court.
Jestern Muleya, 46, who was employed by Beitbridge District Hospital, allegedly killed his wife Matshiliso Christina Muleya, a nurse aide aged 37, after accusing her of cheating on him with Lovemore Tapera.
Matshiliso died allegedly while the couple's son, 17, banged on a locked bedroom door, begging his father to stop assaulting her.
On July 30, last year, Muleya allegedly armed himself with an iron bar following a misunderstanding with Matshiliso after she came home late.
Muleya would not accept the explanation that she was coming from a funeral.
He allegedly repeatedly struck her on the head with the iron bar until she fell unconscious while bleeding from the mouth and nose.
Muleya appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Gloria Takundwa charged with murder.
He was remanded him in custody pending a High Court trial date.
Nomathemba Sayi, for the State told the court that on July 30 at around 9.40PM, Muleya arrived home and found his wife absent.
She turned up later and told Muleya she was coming from a funeral wake.
The two started quarrelling in their bedroom as Muleya accused his wife of cheating on him, the court heard.
Sayi said Matshiliso denied the allegations and during the altercation, Muleya took a galvanised iron bar which was leaning against the wall near the door and struck his wife several times all over her body and she fell down.
She said Matshiliso sustained severe head injuries and her face was left a bloody mess.
"On realising that he had killed his wife, Muleya escaped through the window dressed only in a pair of shorts and disappeared," said Sayi.
Muleya's son - who was not named in court - reportedly managed to get a neighbour to assist him to break down the door and they took his mother's motionless body to hospital.
Matshiliso was declared dead on arrival and Muleya was arrested the next day.
The metal bar that Muleya allegedly used to commit the crime will be presented as an exhibit in court.
Source - chronicle
