News / Local
Mom-in-law weeps in court
12 Aug 2014 at 08:16hrs | Views
The woman whose daughter-in-law committed suicide over her 'surprise visit' wept during her testimony in court on Monday, saying she loved her like her own child.
Loveness Madebe, a business person based in South Africa, testified during the inquest on the death of Samantha Musawenkosi Madebe before Magistrate Gladmore Mushove at the Bulawayo Magistrates' Courts.
Samantha, who was aged 23, reportedly died on the spot along Matopos Road when she jumped off a moving Hilux truck driven by her husband, David, on April 15 last year.
The couple was driving from their Fourwinds home to the Greyhound Offices in the city to fetch Loveness, who was arriving from South Africa.
According to David's testimony at the beginning of the inquest, Samantha threw herself out of the vehicle, protesting why she was the last one to be told about her mother-in-law's visit.
In her testimony, Loveness said she was aggrieved by her daughter-in-law's death.
"They tried to phone me while I was on my way, but the network was bad. When I reached Gwanda at around 7 pm, I phoned and only heard David screaming, saying there had been an accident along Matopos Road," she said before breaking into tears.
"She was my daughter; I loved her like my own child. I had even brought some clothes for her on that day."
Loveness said she attended the scene of the accident when she arrived in Bulawayo at around 10pm.
"We arrived at the scene at around 10pm and found her body still lying there, covered with a jacket. I cried at the scene, I was deeply pained. We waited for four more hours before police officers arrived," she explained.
Loveness also refuted allegations that there was bad blood between her and her daughter-in-law.
"We were in good books. My daughter-in-law loved chicken, each time I came to visit I always took them out to eat. I gave them the house they were staying in, even the car they were driving was mine," she explained.
The inquest continues on August 21 2014.
Loveness Madebe, a business person based in South Africa, testified during the inquest on the death of Samantha Musawenkosi Madebe before Magistrate Gladmore Mushove at the Bulawayo Magistrates' Courts.
Samantha, who was aged 23, reportedly died on the spot along Matopos Road when she jumped off a moving Hilux truck driven by her husband, David, on April 15 last year.
The couple was driving from their Fourwinds home to the Greyhound Offices in the city to fetch Loveness, who was arriving from South Africa.
According to David's testimony at the beginning of the inquest, Samantha threw herself out of the vehicle, protesting why she was the last one to be told about her mother-in-law's visit.
In her testimony, Loveness said she was aggrieved by her daughter-in-law's death.
"They tried to phone me while I was on my way, but the network was bad. When I reached Gwanda at around 7 pm, I phoned and only heard David screaming, saying there had been an accident along Matopos Road," she said before breaking into tears.
"She was my daughter; I loved her like my own child. I had even brought some clothes for her on that day."
Loveness said she attended the scene of the accident when she arrived in Bulawayo at around 10pm.
"We arrived at the scene at around 10pm and found her body still lying there, covered with a jacket. I cried at the scene, I was deeply pained. We waited for four more hours before police officers arrived," she explained.
Loveness also refuted allegations that there was bad blood between her and her daughter-in-law.
"We were in good books. My daughter-in-law loved chicken, each time I came to visit I always took them out to eat. I gave them the house they were staying in, even the car they were driving was mine," she explained.
The inquest continues on August 21 2014.
Source - Zim Mail
