daniel chigunwe
H-Metro Reporter
A WOMAN, who killed her one-year-old son by pulling out his testicles, has been acquitted by the High Court after a judge established that she was mentally ill at the time of the incident.
Justice Pisirai Kwenda ruled that Nomatter Gwatsvaira’s actions were a result of a mental disturbance deserving psychiatric care and support.
Gwatsvaira inflicted fatal injuries on her son, Brighton Makai, while the two were lying in bed in Redcliff, Kwekwe, on August 22, 2020.
She appeared at the Gokwe High Court Circuit where she claimed that she had a dream in which she was cleaning her womb and, at the same time, she was pulling her son’s testicles with her bare hands.
Gwatsvaira’s sister, Sarudzai, found the child groaning with his testicles missing, and rushed him to Kwekwe District Hospital where he was declared dead upon admission.
In his ruling, Justice Kwenda considered Gwatsvaira’s insanity and invoked Section 29 (2) (a) of the Mental Health Act [Chapter 15:12], which calls for litigants to be acquitted on such grounds.
Gwatsvaira has been referred to Mlondolozi Rehabilitation Centre for psychiatric care and support.
Online Reporter
