The Chipata High Court has sentenced a 25 year old woman of Sinda district to 40 years imprisonment with hard labour for trying to murder a friend’s 22 months old baby.
Veronica Tembo took the baby to the bush were she beat the child before burying it in the grass and leaves as a way of getting back at her Friend, Mangiwe Banda whom she quarreled with.
But Justice Florence Lengalenga sitting in the Chipata High Court described Veronica’s behaviour as that of a demonic possessed person.
This is in a matter where Veronica is charged with one count of intent to cause grievous bodily harm contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Facts are that on January 12, 2016 at about 08 hours in Sinda district, the mother to the baby Mangiwe Banda went to the market when Veronica whom she differed with took advantage of her absence and took the baby into the bush with intent to murder the child.
Veronica started beating the baby and left the child unconscious from the beating as she buried it with some leaves and grass.
Mangiwe upon returning from the market noticed that the baby was missing and alerted other villagers who launched a search and eventually found the baby.
The baby was taken to Kasamba Clinic and later referred to Nyanje Mission Hospital where it was found to have suffered a skull fracture and right eye ecchymosis.