A Chegutu man has been jailed for five years after he attempted to kill his one-year-old stepson.
The 23-year-old accused appeared before Chegutu Magistrates’ Court, where he was also charged with threatening to kill his 18-year-old wife during a domestic dispute.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that the court acquitted him on this charge due to lack of sufficient evidence.
The incident took place at a farm compound in Selous, on March 2 this year.
On the fateful night, the offender’s wife fled next door for safety during a domestic dispute and left behind her son, who is 15 months old.
At approximately 10:50 hours, the mother returned after hearing the child crying and found the offender strangling the infant with an electric cable.
She intervened and managed to free the infant.
The infant sustained some injuries on the neck.
Upon realising the gravity of his actions, the offender attempted to flee but was apprehended by alert neighbours.
