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Daughter axes mother for hiring a neighbour

by Staff reporter
18 Nov 2015 at 05:29hrs | Views
A 36-YEAR-OLD Lupane woman, who allegedly struck her mother with an axe for hiring a neighbour without seeking her consent, has been remanded in custody and referred to a mental institution.

Bridget Moyo is alleged to have struck her 62-year-old mother, Gladys Moyo, with an axe on the head and chest, accusing her of unilaterally engaging a neighbour to do a part-time job at their home.

She was remanded in custody and referred to a mental institution, when she appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga last Friday facing attempted murder charges.

Gladys revealed her daughter's mental condition to the court, saying she had repatriated her from South Africa because of her illness.

Bridget stunned the court when she said she did not regret axing her mother, as she had hired their neighbour, Ivy Moyo, whom she accused of always insulting her.

"I do not regret it because my mother called Ivy. Ivy is always insulting me and mocking me and I was angry why my mother called her," Bridget said.

During the hearing, prosecutor Bheki Tshabalala told the court the State had observed signs of mental instability in Bridget, a condition warranting her referral to a mental institution.

When her mother was called to the witness stand to explain her daughter's health, she told the court her daughter had to return from South Africa because of the condition.

The magistrate then ruled that Bridget be committed to Mlondolozi mental institution.

But there was to be more drama, as Bridget denied having mental problems, while she shouted at prison officials who escorted her away from the courthouse.

According to the State, the axing incident occurred in Kabela village, Lupane, on August 21 this year.

The court heard on the day in question, Bridget picked an argument with her mother, whom she accused of unilaterally assigning Ivy to do household chores at their home.

Bridget argued that Ivy should have sought employment in South Africa instead of doing menial jobs in the neighbourhood, but her mother told her off, saying she had no obligation to consult her on who to hire for part-time jobs.

The court heard, Bridget then picked up an axe and struck her mother three times on the head and once on the chest, before fleeing from the scene, leaving her mother lying on the ground wriggling in pain.

The matter was reported to police, leading to Bridget's arrest while her mother was rushed to St Luke's Mission Hospital for treatment.


Source - Southern Eye
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