The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
IN an incident that has left Gokwe villagers shell-shocked, a 23-year-old man murdered his six-year-old niece in cold blood by striking her with an axe twice on the head, leaving her brains splashed on the floor. It is alleged that Medias Marane of Muzhanye Village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe South, brutally murdered his sister’s daughter after sending her to collect plates in the kitchen hut.
The incident occurred on Heroes’ Day at around 10am in Muzhanye Village.
Marane was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gokwe magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja for contravening Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 (murder).
He was remanded in custody to Thursday and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
For the State, Mrs Rumbidzai Katsande told the court that on the fateful day, 11 August, the accused person was at his homestead together with his sister’s daughter.
Mrs Katsande said the accused sent the girl to collect plates from the kitchen hut, so that he would serve food.
She told the court that the accused seized the opportunity and followed the girl to the kitchen while armed with an axe.
The court heard that the accused went to the kitchen and locked the door from inside and struck his niece with the axe twice on the head leaving her brains splattered on the floor.
Mrs Katsande alleged that the accused fled the scene.
The girl’s relatives later discovered her body and reported the matter to the police leading to Marane’s arrest.
