Harare — In a gruesome act that has left the community of Belvedere in Harare shell-shocked, a maid last week allegedly chocked to death a seven-year-old daughter of her employer.
The 26-year-old maid allegedly killed the minor girl a day after she got employed. She has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations. But investigations carried out so far have revealed that the suspect has a history of mental illness.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau confirmed the incident. He said the suspect had approached the girl's parents at a church alleging that she had nowhere to stay. "It is believed the parents decided to employ her as a maid and the following day, they left their daughter, and son aged 18 in the company of the woman. The parents were going out somewhere," he said.
"The suspect was bathing the girl in the dining room since she wanted to take her to church that same night." It is believed the maid lost her mind and suddenly grabbed the girl by the neck with her right hand before pushing her forefinger in the girl's mouth, according to the police.
The girl's brother heard some noise and went to investigate. He found the maid who appeared to have been possessed and in violent disposition forcibly pushing her forefinger down the girl's throat.
He tried to rescue her sister from the maid's tight grip but was overpowered. The brother then locked the doors from outside before calling the police who rushed to the scene and summoned an ambulance but the girl was already dead.
Police said after allegedly killing the girl, the maid started smashing window panes of the house using an iron bar. Insp Sabau urged the public not to employ people they do not know their backgrounds.
People should send their prospective labourers to their nearest police stations for vetting, he said.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200908110043.html
The 26-year-old maid allegedly killed the minor girl a day after she got employed. She has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations. But investigations carried out so far have revealed that the suspect has a history of mental illness.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau confirmed the incident. He said the suspect had approached the girl's parents at a church alleging that she had nowhere to stay. "It is believed the parents decided to employ her as a maid and the following day, they left their daughter, and son aged 18 in the company of the woman. The parents were going out somewhere," he said.
"The suspect was bathing the girl in the dining room since she wanted to take her to church that same night." It is believed the maid lost her mind and suddenly grabbed the girl by the neck with her right hand before pushing her forefinger in the girl's mouth, according to the police.
The girl's brother heard some noise and went to investigate. He found the maid who appeared to have been possessed and in violent disposition forcibly pushing her forefinger down the girl's throat.
He tried to rescue her sister from the maid's tight grip but was overpowered. The brother then locked the doors from outside before calling the police who rushed to the scene and summoned an ambulance but the girl was already dead.
Police said after allegedly killing the girl, the maid started smashing window panes of the house using an iron bar. Insp Sabau urged the public not to employ people they do not know their backgrounds.
People should send their prospective labourers to their nearest police stations for vetting, he said.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200908110043.html